Connor Zilisch meets Max Verstappen in a series of encounters that brought two racing stars from different worlds together, with their initial meetings quickly turning into friendship. Although Zilisch competes in NASCAR and Verstappen reigns in Formula One, shared interests and mutual respect bridged the gap between their disciplines, according to the young American driver.
Racing Fan Turns Contender: Zilisch’s Memorable First Meetings with a Hero
Connor Zilisch, a rising talent from Charlotte, North Carolina, grew up admiring Formula One more than NASCAR, making his first meeting with Max Verstappen all the more significant. As Zilisch recalled, his introduction to the F1 champion happened when he traveled to Texas about a year ago to film a video for Red Bull. Shane van Gisbergen, a prominent figure in both NASCAR and international racing—and a friend to both Zilisch and Verstappen—helped connect the two through their joint project.
“I went to dinner with him about a year ago in Texas,”
said Zilisch, recounting the experience to Kenny Wallace on the Kenny Conversation podcast. Zilisch noted that his involvement came about because he was filming with SVG, and the dinner invitation included Verstappen and the other Red Bull F1 drivers, all of whom share sponsorship ties.
The bond between Shane van Gisbergen and Max Verstappen had its roots in the pandemic, when much of the racing world shifted to virtual competitions. The two were iRacing teammates during those months, leading to a genuine friendship that persisted as real-world racing resumed. This camaraderie paved the way for Zilisch to join them for that memorable dinner in Texas.
“I was down there filming with SVG, and he invited me to dinner with him and Max, and I got to meet Max and talk to him and get to know him better,”
Zilisch shared.
The evening was a dream come true for the 19-year-old, as he found his racing hero approachable and relatable. Zilisch explained that Verstappen’s real personality differs from his public image.
“[Verstappen is] definitely a lot different than the public kind of makes him out to be,”
Zilisch remarked. He described Verstappen as someone who simply loves racing and competing on the track, wanting to focus on his craft rather than the fame that comes with Formula One stardom.
Zilisch’s contact with Verstappen extended beyond that initial meeting.
“It’s pretty cool that I got to meet him and talk to him. And then I saw him again in Austria a couple months ago. I just was joking around with him. He’s a guy that I feel like would race anything if he was given the opportunity and had the time to do,”
Zilisch explained, underlining Verstappen’s passion for motorsport of any kind.
Could a Formula One Champion Compete in American Racing?
While Verstappen is firmly established in Formula One, he’s expressed curiosity about American racing, including both NASCAR and sports car series. Zilisch, who has dominated the NASCAR Xfinity Series this season for JR Motorsports with ten victories, hopes Verstappen will eventually test his skills stateside. Zilisch is set to move to the NASCAR Cup Series with Trackhouse Racing, but he continues to look up to Verstappen’s achievements as an F1 driver.
“I definitely respect him and look up to him,”
Zilisch said.
“He’s obviously crazy talented. It’s been fun to watch his F1 career, and hopefully one day he’ll get over here and get the chance to race either some stock cars or sports cars or something.”
The possibility of sharing the track with Verstappen excites Zilisch. Though it remains a distant prospect, Zilisch imagines racing alongside Verstappen and Shane van Gisbergen in a NASCAR event, perhaps on a storied American track like Watkins Glen. Such a race would mark a collision of motorsport worlds and offer fans an unforgettable spectacle.
The Impact of Friendship and Respect in the Racing Community
The connection between Connor Zilisch and Max Verstappen highlights the camaraderie and admiration that cross the boundaries of discipline and geography in motorsports. Through their interactions, Zilisch has found inspiration and greater motivation to compete at the highest levels, while also dreaming of a day when Verstappen might join the American racing scene. As Zilisch progresses to the NASCAR Cup Series, with the support of friends like Shane van Gisbergen and the mentorship of global icons like Verstappen, the potential exists for even more cross-pollination between the biggest racing series in the world.
