Ryan Blaney has never been one to sugarcoat his opinions, and the Team Penske driver proved that again this week when asked about the ever-growing debate comparing NASCAR and Formula 1. In an era where motorsport fans are more global than ever — with Netflix’s Drive to Survive fueling F1’s popularity in the U.S., and NASCAR striving to expand its international reach — the comparisons and rivalries between the two series are impossible to ignore.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s race, Blaney addressed the topic head-on, offering a candid take that’s likely to spark conversation on both sides of the Atlantic. “I think it’s good for both sports to be talked about in the same breath,” Blaney said. “But at the same time, we’re not the same, and we shouldn’t try to be the same. NASCAR has its own identity, its own roots, and I don’t think we need to chase what Formula 1 is doing just because it’s trendy right now.”
Blaney, the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion, emphasized that while he respects Formula 1’s technology and global prestige, he sees NASCAR’s grit and close-quarters racing as irreplaceable. “Look, those cars are impressive — the engineering, the money, the technology, it’s all wild,” he said. “But you don’t see 20 cars banging doors at 200 miles an hour for three hours. That’s what makes NASCAR special. It’s raw, it’s physical, it’s unpredictable. That’s what fans come for.”
He also didn’t shy away from pointing out what he thinks NASCAR could learn from F1. “The way they market drivers is something we could do better,” Blaney admitted. “F1’s done a great job making their drivers into celebrities worldwide. We’ve got the same personalities here — we just need to show them more. We’re making steps, but there’s more to do.”
Blaney’s comments come as NASCAR continues to test the waters with international expansion, including talks about a potential race overseas and recent collaborations with F1-owned tracks like Circuit of the Americas. But for Blaney, the key is not losing sight of what NASCAR does best. “It’s cool to see the crossover — F1 guys coming to our races, some of us checking out Grands Prix — but I don’t think there needs to be a rivalry,” he said. “We’re different animals. Let’s just be the best version of what we are.”
The rivalry chatter reached new heights last season when F1 stars like Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton spoke about their curiosity to try stock cars someday, while NASCAR drivers like Kyle Larson and Kimi Räikkönen (who briefly returned for a NASCAR cameo) added fuel to the narrative of crossover interest.
As for Blaney, he’s not closing the door on an F1 experience — but he’s realistic. “I’d love to get behind the wheel of one of those things just to see what it’s like, but I know where my home is,” he laughed. “I’m a stock car racer through and through. Let the F1 guys do their thing — we’ll do ours.”
Whether fans see it as rivalry, competition, or friendly coexistence, one thing is clear: drivers like Ryan Blaney are determined to keep NASCAR unapologetically true to its hard-nosed roots — no matter how many F1 fans
jump on board.
