In 2024, Kyle Larson shook the motorsport world. During an interview, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion said something few dared to say out loud. “I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver. There’s no way he can get into a Sprint Car and win the Knoxville Nationals… No way he can win the Chili Bowl. There’s no way he can go win a Cup race at Bristol,” Larson said about Max Verstappen. That sparked immediate reactions across racing circles. These were not casual remarks.

Larson wasn’t just flexing, but staking a claim against a then-three-time Formula 1 World Champion. The comment lit a fire. Larson, known for his dominance on dirt and asphalt, boldly stepped into a debate most drivers avoid. Fans, experts, and even Verstappen himself responded. The Dutch driver tried to stay above the fray. “Everyone is good in their own right,” Verstappen said, downplaying the argument.

But the message was clear: Larson wanted more than a war of words. He wanted to race Verstappen in his arena: Formula 1. Now, nearly a year later, the buzz around Larson making an F1 debut is building again. But there’s a wall in his way. Former F1 insider Will Buxton and NASCAR legend Kevin Harvick are calling out what they see as a broken system. Their target? The FIA’s Super Licence rule. A rule, they say, unfairly blocks drivers like Larson from proving themselves on a global stage.

Ex-F1 star calls out FIA Super Licence rule!

Last year, Kyle Larson didn’t just talk about Max Verstappen. He said outright that he wants to try Formula 1. On Kevin Harvick’s “Happy Hour” podcast, he admitted it would take planning and timing. “I would love to do it. I think it was an option this year… but I have so much going on,” Larson said. He pointed out that a proper test, like one after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, would be his preferred entry. “I would love to strap in with 19 other cars out there and really see where you’re at on the speed charts,” he added.

But the real challenge isn’t just time or logistics. It’s the Super Licence system. Former F1 reporter and broadcaster Will Buxton didn’t hold back. Recently, speaking with Kevin Harvick, he slammed the FIA. “How can you give more super license points to kids out of F3 and F2 than to a driver who finishes second or third in IndyCar? Or the fact that you can’t take a NASCAR champion and chuck them into a Formula 1 car immediately? I understand why they did it, but it’s proven to be so restrictive in terms of allowing people to make a crossover, whether just for a race or an entire season,” he said.

“I’d love to see someone like a Kyle Larson not just attempt the Indy 500, but you know, go and attempt the Monaco Grand Prix… I hate the fact that we have such a restrictive licensing system in place for Formula One,” Buxton added. Larson notably has already attempted the Indy 500 in 2024 and ran in the top 10 until a pit road speeding penalty shot him down multiple spots. He is also poised to make his second attempt this year, and yet, F1 doesn’t feel it is enough to compete with them.

Notably, FIA launched the Super Licence points system in 2016, which requires 40 Super Licence points over three years to participate in F1. Those points come from finishing positions in various feeder series. But here’s the rub, IndyCar, despite its quality, offers fewer total points than F2 and F3. NASCAR drivers, like Larson, earn even less. A Cup Series champion only earns 15 points. That’s just over a third of the required total. As Buxton said, “As race fans, that’s all we want to see—people trying.”’

But under the current rules, trying isn’t enough. The FIA’s structure locks out world-class talent just because they didn’t follow the European path. Harvick joined in on the criticism. “When you mention the license, the super license, and the way it’s all structured, yeah—it is definitely stupid. I’m glad you used that word because it is a very dumb process,” Harvick said. His frustration mirrors what many in the U.S. racing scene feel: the system favors FIA-backed series and boxes out deserving talent.

Meanwhile, F1 drivers like Kimi Raikkonnen and IndyCar veterans like Helio Castroneves got an entry into NASCAR purely based on their recent racing and overall experience. NASCAR rewards and celebrates legends from other series, trying to get their foot in the door. However, F1 seems to discourage that, and the F1 community is not too pleased about it.

The flaws in the Super Licence system were exposed as early as 2022. That year, IndyCar star Colton Herta was blocked from joining F1’s AlphaTauri team because he didn’t meet the point requirement. Despite multiple race wins and top-three finishes in IndyCar, Herta was denied a waiver by the FIA. Critics from all corners pounced. McLaren CEO Zak Brown said, “Colton Herta has the talent to be in F1… The Super Licence system clearly does not value IndyCar as it should.”

Mario Andretti added, “It’s pure politics. The FIA needs to stop pretending there’s no bias.” Even Red Bull’s Helmut Marko called the situation “a mockery of talent.” With such strong voices now criticizing the system, the debate is heating up. But there’s more drama ahead. NASCAR icon Dale Earnhardt Jr. has now revealed that Kyle Larson wasn’t the priority to replace injured Connor Zilisch in Texas.

Dale Jr.’s U-Turn on Kyle Larson

Dale Earnhardt Jr. hasn’t always seen eye-to-eye with Kyle Larson. Just a few weeks ago, he publicly took offense to Larson’s claim that he could “embarrass the Xfinity Series field.” As the owner of JR Motorsports, which competes in the same series, Dale Jr. made it clear he didn’t appreciate the jab. But things have changed quickly. When JR Motorsports needed a last-minute replacement for Connor Zilisch at Texas Motor Speedway because of a back injury he picked up after a last-lap crash at Talladega, they turned to an unexpected name, Kyle Larson.

Many fans were shocked, considering the recent tension. Dale Jr. addressed it directly on his “Dale Jr. Download” podcast. “My team was like, ‘Well, we’re working with Trackhouse, let’s see if Chastain can do it.’ I said, ‘Alright.’ But Chastain couldn’t, he’d exceed his limit of races. So, back to Larson we go. Larson was like, ‘Yep, I’m in.’ He’ll do anything. Race more? You got it,” Dale Jr. explained. Dale Jr. admitted that he had mixed feelings about the turnaround.

“We were just on this show a couple of weeks ago after he said he wanted to embarrass the field… Then, the universe heard all that and said Let me show y’all something. And that’s how the universe works,” he said. But once Larson dominated the track, Dale Jr. changed his tone. “There I was with Kyle Larson, who’s nearly an automatic win, plugged into your car. I texted him, ‘I feel a little bit different about this now.’ When he’s driving your car, it’s great.” This shift signals something bigger. Even those who’ve criticized Larson recognize his elite talent.

What do you think of Kyle Larson’s pedigree? Should he be given a seat in F1 right away? Let us know in the comments!