Alex Palou, a three-time IndyCar champion with Chip Ganassi Racing, shared his honest perspective on the remarkable skills of Max Verstappen and Kyle Larson, highlighting Kyle Larson all-around motorsport talent in a recent interview. Commenting after the IndyCar race at Road America, Palou reflected on how his versatility compares with these top-tier drivers.
Assessing Talent Across Racing Disciplines
Max Verstappen, renowned for his dominance in Formula 1, is widely respected for extracting maximum performance beyond what his car typically allows, keeping control even when pushing limits. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson is celebrated for his ability to compete at a high level across various racing series, including NASCAR, midget cars, sprint cars on dirt, and even open-wheel competition in IndyCar.
Last year, Larson expressed his belief that he was a more complete driver than Verstappen. Despite the high regard all three—Verstappen, Larson, and Palou—enjoy in their respective arenas, they have yet to contest directly in the same event. Palou, however, recently faced Larson at the Indy 500 and was a former go-kart teammate with Verstappen, giving him unique insight into their talents.
“I don’t know. I think stuff to compare drivers from different series. Kyle has done a tremendous job, not only in NASCAR and IndyCar. I would say, probably one of the only drivers in the world that can go to different series and different cars and perform at such a good level that he does. I don’t know, but I don’t think I would be at this level in NASCAR or in dirt racing, so that’s probably higher than me,” said Alex Palou.
“And Max, he was my teammate in Go Karts. He is an amazing driver, and he’s probably the fastest in a single seater. So, yeah, I don’t know where I stand, but for sure not at those levels. Hopefully one day. But yeah, what Kyle is able to do with different cars in different series is pretty impressive.” —Alex Palou, IndyCar Champion
Alex Palou’s Career Decisions and Formula 1 Aspirations
In 2022, Alex Palou agreed to a deal with Arrow McLaren, which would have combined his IndyCar role with a reserve driver position for their Formula 1 team. That transition was delayed due to clauses in his ongoing contract with Chip Ganassi Racing. During that period, McLaren solidified long-term deals with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, reducing Palou’s pathway to F1 and ultimately leading him to remain with Chip Ganassi Racing. The situation escalated into legal action from the McLaren “Papaya” team after Palou opted to stay with CGR rather than pursue the F1 opportunity.
After the Road America GP, Palou responded to questions regarding any renewed Formula 1 interest from teams or his own ambitions.
“I tried everything, like I would say three years ago, to try and get there. I think everybody knows that it didn’t work out, and that was okay. It was a fun, fun experience, but. Yeah. Now, I’m not looking for that. I’m really happy where I am, and I think I’m really privileged to be in the position I am to fight for races and championships.” —Alex Palou, IndyCar Champion
Palou’s Current Dominance in IndyCar
Alex Palou continues to lead the IndyCar championship, amassing 386 points and achieving six victories in the first nine races of the season, which includes a triumphant win at the Indy 500. His consistent performance not only cements his status at the top of the series but also underscores his personal satisfaction racing in North America rather than chasing Formula 1 aspirations.
The strong performances by Max Verstappen in F1, Kyle Larson’s all-around prowess across different categories, and Alex Palou’s continuing dominance in IndyCar highlight the exceptional level of talent within motorsport today. As each driver continues to carve their unique path, fans and experts alike are left to wonder how future on-track encounters might redefine these rankings further.
