Ever since Netflix’s NASCAR: Full Speed aired this year, the comparisons between America’s favorite in motorsport and what many consider the very pinnacle, Formula 1, have never been closer. But whilst NASCAR is aiming to catch up with the open-wheel series in terms of viewership, some veterans like Kenny Wallace believe that the Cup Series just falls short of a Grand Prix for various reasons. And along with him, Danica Patrick spilled the beans on why Formula 1 may still have the edge over NASCAR.

Danica Patrick adds fuel to Kenny Wallace’s fire over F1’s superiority

Although it’s worth mentioning that the 2024 Cup Series season seems to be creating quite a buzz, the viewership statistics aren’t reflecting the same. In Eric Estepp’s latest video on the Richmond race, the popular YouTuber revealed that this year’s viewership numbers were far lower than 2022’s figures for the Easter Sunday race. With evidence of NASCAR’s great plans not unfolding according to plan, Kenny Wallace asked Danica Patrick what she believes sets Formula 1 a step above NASCAR.

“I think a little bit is, it’s very glamorous, you know, to drive for Ferrari, like, there’s some glamor element to it,” said Patrick. But that wasn’t all. Danica also believes that the duration of a Grand Prix is just right, whilst a Cup Series race may be too lengthy. The usual GP lasts no longer than 2 hours, making the period affordable for fans with a busy schedule too. On the other hand, NASCAR races usually take up much longer.

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Naturally, Patrick felt that race duration was a key factor. She stated, “I personally think (NASCAR) races are way too long like I can understand if some are long, but man, it is hard to sit there for three to four hours for sure, for the race. That’s a lot of commitment and a lot of attention span, so I think there’s some benefit in it being shorter races.” The shorter races allowed for F1 teams to emphasize pit strategy, creating enticing races even without constant contact.

Just last week, we got a glimpse of this in NASCAR too, when Hamlin overtook Truex Jr based on his faster pit stop. The 42-year-old felt that layer of strategy made things more exciting. She further explained, “So there’s also a lot of explanation of the strategy of where the car is gonna end up based on, like, under-cut, over-cut, so I think they kind of cram it all in. I think the cars are sexy, they sound good. They look cool (when) running. I think glamor, shorter races.”

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At this point, it was safe to say Danica Patrick has given Kenny Wallace sufficient points to add to his recent campaign against NASCAR. However, she also highlighted a key strength of Formula 1 that doesn’t lie in the hands of officials.

Danica believes the personalities in F1 have an edge over NASCAR too!

Despite Max Verstappen’s domination, Formula 1 drivers have never had a larger fanbase. From Ferrari’s poster child, Charles Leclerc, to the 7X champ Lewis Hamilton, their fans are some of the most passionate in all of motorsport, and for good reason. Sharing some insight into how the driver’s personality influences this popularity, Patrick shared another major reason for F1’s success over NASCAR in the global market.

She stated, “I also think there are some good personalities (in F1). I think they’re in a really good phase with the driver lineup in Formula 1. We see this in all sports. Sometimes there’s just a wave of personalities in a sport that lifts it up. And I think F1 is in that phase right now. I think Drive to Survive played a big role.“ Reflecting on the Netflix series, Patrick felt it had given fans insight into the world of not just the drivers but also vital team members.

The show had helped fans connect with their favorites far closer than ever before. She concluded by highlighting the example of former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner, who remains a fan favorite despite exiting the team this season. She stated, “I mean, shoot! People cheer for team principals now! So I think there’s quite a few reasons it’s popular, and it’s global, so there’s a lot of eyes on it.”

After looking at all the valid points Danica Patrick brought up to put F1 over NASCAR, do you think the sport should introduce some changes to the duration?

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