Max Verstappen vs. Kyle Larson at Indy 500? Fans Stir Rivalry After Historic F1 Change

"I am better than him [Max Verstappen] as an all-around driver." A few months ago, Kyle Larson rattled the world of motorsports with a shocking declaration about F1 Champion Max Verstappen. There was no way of testing who was better at the time. Both the NASCAR and F1 season were in full swing. Both drivers competed for the titles in their respective disciplines. A recent change to F1 schedules may just bring a way for Kyle Larson to prove his point.

In a shocking turn of events, the Monaco Grand Prix will be moving from late May to early June, starting in 2026. With the Monaco GP no longer colliding with the dates of the double, fans can expect to see some F1 drivers taken on the open-wheel Indy500. However, for Kyle Larson, who has been planning to attempt the "Double" again in 2025 with more tries in the future, this makes things more interesting as this will open the floodgates for F1 drivers to compete in the open-wheeler event.

Why is the change in Monaco dates a problem for Kyle Larson? Historically, the Monaco GP's late-May slot made it almost impossible for F1 drivers to participate in the Indy 500, as the events took place over the same week. The hectic travel logistics and conflicting time zones created a hard barrier, leaving IndyCar's biggest stage largely untouched by current F1 stars. But with Monaco's move to June, that barrier vanishes, and there is no reason why the Formula 1 drivers shouldn't try their hand at the Indianapolis. This might become a problem for Kyle Larson, who is interested in attempting if he plans on doing so in 2026, as his rival for the best driver in the world title, Max Verstappen, will have a chance to race him.

Now, imagine drivers like Max Verstappen or Charles Leclerc entering the Indy 500. Verstappen, already a three-time F1 champion, has expressed interest in exploring racing opportunities beyond F1 in the past and this opens up his calendar for the late-May event. It may be a long shot since Max Verstappen's interests outsider F1 are largely based on endurance racing. The Dutchman famously raced for four hours in an online endurance racing series right before the Emilia-Romagna GP earlier in the year.

However, a shot at the Indy 500 could be something that Max Verstappen would want under his belt. Indy cars are not too different from F1 cars, given that both fall under the open-wheel racing category. Additionally, it lets him work on the dream of many motorsports drivers, the Triple Crown, where a driver wins the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the F1 title, and the Indy 500. On the other hand, Kyle Larson has proved that he can take on challenges, but what happens when they go head-to-head? For Kyle Larson , this change could impact his chances of a strong finish at Indianapolis. The NASCAR driver has been working closely with Arrow McLaren to attempt and possibly win America's most prestigious open-wheel race. But with F1 drivers potentially joining the field by 2026, the competition could bring up an interesting starting grid.

Larson's path to Indy success is already steep, given the learning curve of transitioning from stock cars to open-wheel racing. The arrival of elite F1 talent, who are already well-versed in high-speed, high-downforce machines, would only raise the stakes further.

While many fans are excited to see the shift in the dates for Monaco, for NASCAR fans this comes as bad news. The idea of seeing F1's best go wheel-to-wheel with NASCAR's brightest on IndyCar's biggest stage is something that many racing fans dream of. But for Larson fans, this is not something that they seem too excited about on Reddit based on their reactions to this news. Let's take a look at their reservations.

NASCAR fans are not happy about the decision to reschedule the Monaco GP Fans aren't holding back their emotions about Formula 1's decision to move the Monaco Grand Prix to early June, and their reactions capture just how deeply intertwined tradition and motorsports are for many. One fan summed up the sentiment perfectly, lamenting, "Noooo... not The Greatest Day in Motorsports! I got my whole family invested in Larson doing The Double this year. That was fun... until it wasn't." The idea of watching Larson conquer both the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in one day has been an electrifying narrative for NASCAR fans, and now it feels like that dream might lose some of its shine if the dynamic changes. Although it is entertaining for drivers to watch Kyle Larson take on the Indy 500, the decision to participate this year may have cost him the regular season championship, as he missed the title by a single point. Had he raced the Coca-Cola 600, he may have had one title in the bag.

Another fan shared a bittersweet take on the shift, saying, "Oh no, that kind sucks. Watching the triple was a staple on Memorial Day Sunday." The traditional triple-header of Monaco GP, Indy 500, and Coca-Cola 600 has been a sacred motorsports marathon for years, offering something for every type of fan.

Others, while nostalgic for the old ways, see the logic behind F1's move. "Easily the worst part of the 'greatest day in motorsports,' but it was still nice to watch during breakfast and coffee. It makes sense that F1 is moving towards regionalizing the schedule, though." There's a recognition that the logistical benefits of clustering races by region align with modern sustainability goals, even if it disrupts a beloved tradition. In its entirety, F1 adopted a new schedule that starts in 2026. According to the schedule, races in proximity to one-another are organized on successive weekends, making the job easier to transport all equipment.

But not everyone is mourning the change. Some fans see an opportunity in the shake-up. One playfully suggested, "What if we ruin tradition just because... On the other hand, can we get an F1 driver for the Indy 500? Leclerc, Verstappen, Hamilton." The thought of seeing current F1 legends like Verstappen or Hamilton at the Brickyard is undeniably tantalizing, and it could elevate the spectacle to new heights.

Then there's the ultimate motorsport fan fantasy: "What if they throw Larson and Verstappen in identical team cars for the 500... put this story to rest." It's a dream matchup that could answer the long-standing debate of who truly reigns supreme as the world's best driver.

Do you think we will be able to see a showdown between Verstappen and Kyle Larson in 2026? Share your thoughts in the comments below.