Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher, joined Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst for some serious hot laps in a Ford Mustang GT.
Since the inception of motorsport, the great debate has always loomed — which category is the most difficult, and what group of drivers are the most talented? Of all the motorsport categories that exist, the majority of answers usually involve Formula 1, World Rally Championship, Endurance Racing, and NASCAR — depending on what part of the globe you reside in.
The truth of the matter being — it’s subjective. While an argument exists as to which category is most difficult, the consensus around the globe is Formula 1. Unless of course you’re in America — a place where aerodynamics are irrelevant and right turns are for Europeans — Americans have made a national sensation out of driving in an oval.
However, if you’re Gene Haas, it’s all semantics unless you’re winning championships. So, when the Haas F1 team had a chance to meet with the Stewart-Haas NASCAR team, we finally got a glimpse into how well these drivers’ skills can transfer to a completely new way of racing.
The Stewart-Haas Mustang
Meeting at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, Kevin Magnussen and Mick Schumacher of the Haas F1 Team join Chase Briscoe, Cole Custer, and Riley Herbst of the Stewart-Haas NASCAR team for an afternoon of hot laps.
After witnessing the terrifying event that is riding as a passenger in a race car, both Kevin and Mick prep for their first time behind the wheel of the naturally aspirated stock car capable of up to 750 horsepower — with minimal downforce, and even less braking power .
First impressions are positive when both F1 drivers are pleasantly surprised at the amount of grip the stock car has, but not before Magnussen admits “it is a little scary, but it is fun.”
After both drivers get their share of laps in, we start to hear the comparisons Magnussen and Schumacher have to report. From the start, Magnussen details how a stock car “sure doesn’t feel slow” when Briscoe inquired about his experience. Mick reports that these cars are a lot heavier, with little to no downforce, and brakes that don’t feel like they do much of anything. Something Briscoe confirms when he eloquently adds, “(the brakes) definitely don’t stop good.”
Apart from some obvious differences that relate to the shape of the car, Kevin and Mick mostly noticed the excruciating sound the exhaust makes, especially when in close to the wall. However, in a moment of humility, the two F1 drivers truthfully admit it felt almost as if this were their first time driving a race car.
We still can’t help but imagine how the portly NASCAR drivers would handle themselves in a Formula 1 car — although we doubt Haas would want to bankroll that endeavor.
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About The Author
Jacob Suarez
(140 Articles Published)
Jacob is a is a writer and gearhead splitting time between Southern California and Phoenix, Arizona. When he’s not wrenching on his and his wife’s questionable fleet of cars; he’s learning DIY repair, researching car culture and history, or casually browsing used cars. Jacob cut his teeth writing for the now defunct, Oppositelock, before the website was blown up.
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