Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series winner, has a history of wanting to compete in IndyCar racing, and many people think that he will eventually transition to Formula 1 full-time due to his racing abilities. According to motor sports media, Larson’s goals for the Indianapolis 500 are within striking distance, even though a complete F1 transfer appears unlikely.
Because of his ties to Arrow McLaren and his adaptability behind the wheel, Larson’s name has been floated as a possible Formula 1 driver. On his SiriusXM NASCAR Radio broadcast, renowned racing reporter Jack Arute expressed his confidence in Larson’s ability to succeed in the Indianapolis 500 and alluded to his versatility for a full-time switch to Formula One.
After Dave Moody of Motor Racing Network referred to Larson’s decision to switch to Formula One as “career suicide” and expressed uncertainty that any organization, including F1, could “pluck him out” of NASCAR, Arute made his remarks. Arute disagreed after speaking with Tony Kanaan, Larson’s Indianapolis car coach, and obtaining inside knowledge.
“I gotta tell you, I think Kyle Larson, after what I witnessed up close and personal, and also because of my ties with Tony Kanaan and Arrow McLaren, and what he did and the way he adapted, and just how laudatory TK was about everything that the guy did, I honestly think he could become the first NASCAR driver to win the greatest spectacle in racing,” Arute said.
“If he keeps after it for the next couple of years, I truly believe that that’s right there on the precipice of happening,” he said. In addition to other issues, Larson’s age is the main source of online doubt over his conversion.
According to the internet, he is 32 years old, which is past the ideal age for a driver to start racing. Younger drivers make up the F1 grid; among the sport’s youngest drivers is McLaren’s Oscar Piastri [23] and Lando Norris [25] team. Max Verstappen, the four-time Red Bull champion, is only 27.
The learning curve of Formula 1’s unique procedures outside of NASCAR, such as data collection, car development, and international travel—mostly throughout Europe—has also been brought up by motorsports enthusiasts. Because of all of these reasons, some fans have expressed that Larson’s transfer would take years to get used to, which may make the Hendrick Motorsports driver less competitive in early races.
Larson is one of America’s best racers because of his racing experience and unwavering determination. “Larson isn’t just a top-shelf NASCAR driver,” one fan wrote online, summarizing his unadulterated racing prowess. He is an elite race car driver. He’s the best American pure racing driver, you could say.
Hendrick and Arrow McLaren gave Larson permission to pursue his Indy Car passion by supplying the vehicle for his 2024 debut. His effort to complete “The Double”—racing in the Coca-Cola 600 and the Indianapolis 500 on the same day—was thwarted by weather conditions last season, but he plans to try again in 2025.
Larson stated, “I would definitely love to be back next year,” following his 18th-place finish in the Indianapolis 500 the previous year. “I think I gained a lot of knowledge. I’m not sure what I did, but I made a few mistakes with the restart early on. After that, I felt like I performed extremely well and learned a lot.
