As Kyle Larson gears up for his Indy 500 debut with Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, his willingness to step outside NASCAR is already on full display. Last year, McLaren CEO Zak Brown confirmed discussions about a potential F1 test, calling Larson “an awesome talent”. But this, too, isn’t coming out of nowhere.

Back in 2024, after a dominant win at Bristol, Larson admitted, “I would love to strap in with 19 other cars out there and really see where you’re at on the speed charts.” Now, with IndyCar experience under his belt and a global spotlight on his versatility, Larson’s recent comments on The Pat McAfee Show suggest that idea is starting to crystallize.

Larson said, “Never been asked to drive in F1, I think it’s tough coming from my background of dirt tracks and ovals. But I went to Abu Dhabi in 2021. It was sick, like the event was awesome. It was incredible. The racing is not what we are accustomed to in America. There, it’s crazy how big it is because,” then Larson slipped back into his challenging mode, “it’s not super exciting, but I think it’s the stuff outside of it.”

Indeed, Formula One’s popularity worldwide is undeniable, while NASCAR is still mostly confined to the US. Despite this disparity in glitz, Kyle Larson pointed out how the racing also differs. “The celebrities that are there, the engineering, the money. Just everything about that. You know, the big brands on the cars and stuff. You know, I feel like NASCAR, IndyCar here in America, like, you can’t find much more exciting racing than what we have here. So, I’m fortunate to get to run both of them.” Yet Larson still added his note of enthusiasm, “but I would definitely never turn down the opportunity to go [race F1].” Even though that opportunity has not arrived yet, it does not seem he has to wait too long. Mostly after what McLaren’s Chief Executive, Zak Brown, said in 2024.

“I’d love to see him have a go in a Formula 1 car. I’ve actually spoken with Kyle about that. I think you would expect me to. I didn’t have to do that to get him to drive for us at Indy. But he’s an awesome talent. I think he would do good,” Brown said. This indicates a possibility that McLaren might approach him with a driver contract for F1 someday. They are also the active minds behind Larson’s Indy car, the No. 17 Arrow McLaren race car. But will Mr. H allow Larson to take that route?

In Zak Brown’s words, “I think Rick’s a proper racer. I think he’d probably enjoy it, not only give permission, but I think I can see Rick going, ‘I want to go’.” But that can be dealt with when the issue arises, right? For now, however, Kyle Larson is focusing on his IndyCar adventure. He is brimming with confidence despite the series of mishaps.

A few scratches do not hurt him

“A very short memory is all I can think of,” the current HMS VP of competition, Chad Knaus, said recently. He was referring to Kyle Larson’s superb ability to move on from mishaps and score a resounding victory at Kansas Speedway. Indeed, there may be no other explanation as Larson’s IndyCar runs have not been smooth this year. During an Open Test in April, Larson crashed his No. 17 Arrow-McLaren into the wall. Then again, during the Fast Friday practice, he bumped both sides of his vehicle. These twin crashes cast a dark cloud of doubt over the star’s upcoming Indy 500 attempt. However, the speedster had an explanation for it.

Starting in 2025, the IndyCar series is implementing a hybrid technology in its cars. This is why Kyle Larson has had problems maneuvering his vehicle, as he explained: “Yeah, I think that with the introduction of the hybrid system this year, the weight of the car has made it a bit more challenging to find the right balance. I didn’t feel very good at the open test. Then, you know, I had a spin last week. I had a lot more front grip than I’ve ever felt in an IndyCar. Yeah, it kind of swapped around on me. But you’ve seen it this year. A handful of really good drivers have lost control of their cars. But, as I said, it’s a fun challenge trying to figure out your car and improve its balance.”

Evidently, Kyle Larson is thinking off-NASCAR pretty frequently. As the Indy 500 looms closer, we cannot wait to see him perform. Who knows, maybe an F1 opportunity may be lingering not far off?