F1 champion Max Verstappen's NASCAR hint met with clear demand

F1 champion Max Verstappen appeared to hint that he'd like to drive a NASCAR car in video footage recently posted on social media, leading to a clear demand from fans to get him into one.

The video in question was posted by Trackhouse Racing and showed Verstappen interacting with up-and-coming NASCAR star Connor Zilisch. Zilisch races with JR Motorsports in the Xfinity Series and Trackhouse Racing in the Cup Series, but he is sponsored by Red Bull, and a Red Bull promotional event saw the pair meet.

The 18-year-old has been making a splash in the Xfinity Series in 2025, winning at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) earlier this season and sitting fifth overall in the standings at present. Zilisch also made his Cup debut earlier in 2025, finishing 37th, also at COTA, before coming 23rd at the Coca-Cola 600 in late May in his second appearance at NASCAR's top level.

"What’s up man?", Zilisch asked in a video posted to Trackhouse Racing's X page. "How are you? Good to see you," the Trackhouse driver said as Verstappen walked over and shook his hand.

"Yeah, it’s good to see you," the Dutch driver said. "You ready?", Verstappen asked, before Zilisch replied: "I think so. You want to get in [the NASCAR car]?"

Verstappen then admitted: "I mean, I would like to do it."

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You want to get in, @Max33Verstappen? 👀 pic.twitter.com/hH8I23gNKl

— Trackhouse Racing (@TeamTrackhouse) June 6, 2025

Fans want to see Max Verstappen in NASCAR

That exchange between the pair has led to chat among social media fans about the potential for Verstappen to one day race in NASCAR.

"I would love to see @Max33Verstappen in any stock car! Awesome!!", one user said, while another said: "Max would be welcomed with open arms!"

One user pointed out that it would be a good test to see who really are the best drivers in the world: "F1 vs. NASCAR. We would figure out who is the best driver in the world once and for all."

One pointed to Kyle Larson's brag about being a better 'all-round driver' than Verstappen, stating: "Get him in there and shut Larson tf up."

Of course, NASCAR introduced the open exemption provisional ahead of the 2025 season, which could, in theory, see a star like Verstappen race in the Cup Series.

According to NASCAR, the OEP 'provides a guaranteed starting position for world-class drivers who enter a NASCAR Cup Series race', with Helio Castroneves having used it to guarantee a spot in the Daytona 500 earlier this year, having failed to qualify.

The new OEP has been compared to a 'promoter's choice provisional', which is used in short-track and dirt racing to ensure high-caliber drivers' entry into feature races.

In fairness, were Verstappen ever to drive in NASCAR, he would have his eyes on qualifying on merit, but the OEP could be a viable option at somewhere like Daytona if the four-time F1 champ ever did want to make the switch from open wheel to a stock car.

READ MORE: NASCAR Cup Series 2025: Michigan start times, schedule, and how to watch live on TV

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