Max Verstappen loves to watch the IndyCar drivers and teams but will forego driving his ovals

Max Verstappen is enthusiastic about the NTT IndyCar Series – its hard-fought races, its varied routes and its “real racing car”.

But of course the Red Bull Racing driver and F1 championship contender draws the line – a circular one in this case – at the thought of ever participating in the ongoing parade of European drivers in America’s top single-seater open cockpit series.

“I love to watch (IndyCar),” Verstappen told NBC Sports. “Of course it’s a little different than in Formula 1, but I also think that’s nice and very interesting to see. And for my part, I’m of course happy to be in Formula 1, because personally I’m not a big oval fan. The road tracks and courses are good, but no, I wouldn’t be a big fan of oval races myself.

“The risk of a big crash is just great, and of course I know that there is also the risk of a collision in Formula 1, but when you’re driving against a certain wall at over 200 km / h it’s no fun. And that risk is higher with IndyCar, and especially if you hit someone else and bump into the fence, there are plenty of examples where it doesn’t end well or you get really hurt in the end. So for me i love to see it. I have a lot of respect for the drivers who do this, but I’m happy where I am. “

As befits his solid position to win his first world title.

The 24-year-old Verstappen peppered his remarks with a few knowing laughs – the self-confidence of a 17-time career winner, the Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton with a six point lead in the F1 title standings before the US Grand Prix on Sunday at the Circuit of the Americas (17 22 races this season).

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The dominance of Red Bull and Mercedes, who have won 29 of the past 33 races together, dampens the profit potential for younger drivers in the Ladder Series. And then there’s the fact that F1 is already limited to 20 spots in 10 teams (compared to a projected full-time field in the mid to high 20s for IndyCar in 2022).

That has sparked a surge in F1 veterans and prospects who take a close look at IndyCar. Former Haas F1 driver Romain Grosjean made a part-time jump this year and will join Andretti Autosport full-time in 2022. He will be led by Christian Lundgaard (who was announced on Wednesday in the Dallara-Honda No. 30 by Rahal. Letterman Lanigan Racing) and Callum Ilott.

Meanwhile, Nico Hulkenberg is testing next week at Barber Motorsports Park for Arrow McLaren SP, who two years ago started the second of two Indy 500 starts for two-time F1 champion Fernando Alonso.

Of course there are also other European drivers who have decided to forego the European circuits entirely. Reigning serial champion Alex Palou came to IndyCar straight from racing in Japan and has no plans to transition to F1 (unlike up and coming IndyCar stars Colton Herta and Pato O’Ward).

Rinus VeeKay, 21, moved to America as a teenager to seek rides in the Road to Indy ladder series so he could race in IndyCar.

Max Verstappen, an IndyCar fan, smiles during a press conference on the United States Grand Prix on November 2, 2019 at the Circuit of the Americas, Formula 1’s most recent visit to America. (Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports).“src =” “data-src =” https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/A1MbyvB7gf3DCi4U.DMcbQ–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MA–/https://s.yimg.com/uu/ api / res / 1.2 / umyClLDKi6oV.lzLo7_cbg– ~ B / aD0zNzEyO3c9NTU2ODthcHBpZD15dGFjaHlvbg – / https: //media.zenfs.com/de/nbcsports.com/33776a1f6a9853800cbd .19

Max Verstappen, an IndyCar fan, smiles during a press conference on the United States Grand Prix on November 2, 2019 at the Circuit of the Americas, Formula 1’s most recent visit to America. (Jerome Miron / USA TODAY Sports).

“I think it’s a bit of both,” said Max Verstappen of the European influx to IndyCar. “Some are fully committed to being successful in America, such as Rinus. He just said, ‘OK, I’ll focus on America and try to make it there.’ Because IndyCar is of course the F1 in America.

“So there is also a bit of the possibility of being in Formula 1 sometimes or not when there is not the right place for you. IndyCar is a great alternative as the level is super high. You drive great routes. They have great teams.

“So if you have the opportunity to drive Formula E in IndyCar, for example, I can fully understand that because the speeds are higher and it’s a real racing car. And I think that’s why some guys who are also in Formula 2 but don’t see a direct route to Formula 1 go to IndyCar. “

Verstappen has his eye on VeeKay, a Dutch rider who won IndyCar Rookie of the Year 2020 and took his first win last year. Due to an age difference of almost three years, they never competed against each other in the Dutch junior ranks.

“Of course I saw him drive, but we always missed each other when it came to categories,” said Verstappen. “I’ve seen him grow from a small child to a fairly large size. Yes, of course he started the season (2021) very well in IndyCar and had some good moments, so let’s see what comes out of it. “

After the IndyCar season ended last month, Austin will be the US center of attention for single-seater racing this weekend as F1 racing takes place at COTA for the first time in nearly two years amid a surge in American popularity .

TV ratings are booming after the third season of the F1 documentary series “Drive to Survive” on Netflix (which raised the stories of likeable drivers like Pierre Gasly) and the biggest crowd in the nine-year history of the Austin race is expected this weekend.

“It’s a bit difficult to say exactly where it’s coming from,” Verstappen said of the expansion of the US audience. “Netflix certainly helped develop a common understanding. But it is good. The owners naturally want to push it more in America. We’re getting more races in America, which is a good thing on my part. (Before) you find a pretty big difference between people who really like (F1) and people who really don’t know much about it. You can see that the gap is getting smaller, which I think is a great thing. “

Red Bull Racing team-mates Max Verstappen (second) and Sergio Perez (third) celebrated podium finishes at the Turkish F1 Grand Prix on October 10 (Mark Thompson / Getty Images).

Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez recently caused a stir with a demonstration drive of a Red Bull F1 car in Manhattan and drew thousands in Dallas last week for a similar event.

“It was really, really impressive,” Perez told NBC Sports. “I didn’t expect to see so many people. It was very nice. It’s great to see that Formula 1 as a sport is growing rapidly in the United States. That was very nice and of course a lot of Latinos and Mexicans came to the show. I think we had a great time there.

“You take to the streets and probably not a lot of people recognize you like in other places in Europe or Mexico, but it’s definitely getting more and more. When you’re in Austin and there’s a race there, of course a lot of people and a lot of Americans are into Formula 1. But I just have the feeling that the fans just enjoy the sport more and are more involved. “

With a second annual US race announced for the Miami area in 2022, both drivers believe there could be room for a third race because “it’s such a big country that you can definitely host a few races here “said Verstappen.

“It would be better for me because more races in America are a little closer to home,” said Perez, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico. “I can visit my family while we’re racing over here when I’m away from home for most of the year. So I would definitely like to see more races in America. NASCAR is very popular in the US, but I have a feeling that we can definitely see that Formula One is growing pretty fast, and that’s something nice. “

Perez, whose brother once competed in the NASCAR Mexico Series, is also a fan of the Mexican driver Daniel Suarez in the Cup Series.

Although the Red Bull drivers often miss seeing NASCAR races live due to intercontinental time differences (“their races are a little later in the day, so I’m already in bed most of the time,” said Verstappen), they got a taste of it Stock car competition Tuesday.

Verstappen and Perez faced Stewart-Haas Racing drivers Kevin Harvick and Aric Almirola (the company is both a sponsor and technical partner of Red Bull, the Mobil 1 Racing used). Engine efficiency and performance lubricants like SHR does in NASCAR).

Verstappen has another connection to NASCAR: his girlfriend Kelly Piquet is the older sister of Julia Piquet, the girlfriend of Daniel Suarez.

“So of course you get a bit more updates,” said Verstappen, laughing at the NASCAR chase. “And yeah, (NASCAR is) really cool. It’s very different from what we do, of course, but it’s very exciting. “

Max Verstappen loves to watch the IndyCar drivers and teams but will forego driving his Ovals, which originally appeared on NBCSports.com