NASCAR and Formula 1. Two prestigious auto racing series with finely tuned cars hitting speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour… and yet they couldn’t be more different. Despite these obvious differences, in a recent conversation Hard Rock brand ambassador and NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr., who will attend this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, said that he believes that he could go toe-to-toe with and even win a Formula 1 Grand Prix with just one condition.
It’s all about the ovals
One of the key differences between F1 and NASCAR is the shape of the tracks. While Formula 1 Grand Prix are typically run on some of the world’s most demanding road courses, NASCAR runs on ovals. And while it might seem easy to dismiss the challenge of racing on an oval track, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. sets the record straight:
“If F1 raced on ovals, I could have won an F1 race, absolutely.”
He then went on to say that he would have had to have trained for his entire life to have been competitive on a standard Formula 1 track. On an oval though? That’s another story.
“I grew up racing on ovals, that’s really like a completely different, unique discipline. The way you drive an oval vs the way you drive a road course is so different. So, I think if they ever ran them on ovals I’d have a shot, for sure.”
Could an F1 driver compete in NASCAR?
So how about going the other way. Formula 1 is often referred to as the pinnacle of motorsport, but could an F1 driver find success in NASCAR? Dale Jr. thinks so:
“F1 drivers could absolutely come in to NASCAR and be competitive, but mainly on the road courses. I think that they’d have a hard time learning the discipline of racing on our ovals with the kind of cars we have. It would be as difficult as any of our oval guys trying to go over there and be great in F1. But if they came and ran a road course race, you’d have to say that they had a shot to win.”
So there you have it, straight from one of the most accomplished drivers to ever touch a steering wheel.
Formula One Miami Grand Prix Info
The fourth edition of the Formula One Miami Grand Prix will take place on Sunday, May 4th, at the Miami International Autodrome – a temporary circuit housed around Hard Rock Stadium. While the Grand Prix is the marquee event of the weekend, a packed schedule of racing action lies ahead.
- Sunday, May 4 @ 4:00pm – Formula One Miami Grand Prix (Race)
- Saturday, May 3 @ 4:00pm – Qualifying
- Saturday, May 3 @ 12:00pm – Sprint Race
- Friday, May 2 @ 4:30pm – Sprint Qualifying
- Friday, May 2 @ 12:30pm – Practice 1
Bet on the F1 Miami GP with Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet is the exclusive home to sports betting in Florida. Wager on this weekend’s Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix through the top-rated betting app by selecting “All Sports” > “Motor Racing” > “Formula 1 2025”. Markets are available on everything from the Race Winner to the number of Safety Cars.
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