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Max Verstappen recently admitted that while he enjoys watching oval races in NASCAR and IndyCar, he has no plans to take part due to the risks involved. The remarks drew sharp reactions from the community, with veteran journalist Jeff Gluck offering a pointed response on social media.In F1, NASCAR, and IndyCar, safety advancements have evolved dramatically after hard lessons learned from tragedies. Reinforced monocoques, HANS devices, and the introduction of the Halo and Aeroscreen have saved lives. Yet, despite these innovations, the fear of catastrophic crashes remains a reality, and Verstappen didn't want to be a part of it.Speaking on the Pelas Pistas podcast, he said:“I like watching all different kind of racing. For me, it’s just that on oval, I don’t want to do it just for the risk of injury. When you hit the fence, it’s not worth it also. When you did your stuff in F1, and you can win more there, but it’s not worth the risk of having a really bad accident and hurting yourself really badly. I know that in F1 that can happen as well, but there they are hitting the wall with 370 or what—and that is not something I’m planning to do.”The clip quickly circulated online, catching the attention of The Athletic’s NASCAR insider Jeff Gluck. Quoting the segment on X, Gluck wrote:“The fear of ovals from F1 drivers always seems odd to me. Enclosed-cockpit NASCAR stock cars are much safer than sticking your head out of an F1 car, and the IndyCar aeroscreen is safer than the F1 halo as well.”Gluck pointed out that modern safety systems and the manufacturing of stock cars make ovals less inherently lethal than outsiders assume.Safety in elite motorsport is complex. Open-wheel cars are light, very quick, and expose more of the driver’s body to impact forces. NASCAR stock cars are heavy, sit lower in the pack, and wrap the driver in a survival cell with modern roofs, roll cages, energy-absorbing structures, and seat-mount technology designed to limit intrusion.IndyCar’s aeroscreen and F1’s halo each address different threat vectors, debris, cockpit penetration, and the unusual angles of open-wheel impacts. Improvements have cut the worst outcomes dramatically. Still, high speeds and walls remain unforgiving.History proves that both sides can suffer catastrophic outcomes. NASCAR’s most painful moment in modern memory came with Dale Earnhardt Sr.’s death at Daytona in 2001. Since then, the sport has seen major safety changes across all tiers. Open-wheel series also have their tragedies, with Ayrton Senna’s death in 1994 and Jules Bianchi’s fatal crash in 2014.Those lessons drove devices, structural changes, and medical protocols that make today’s cars far safer than their predecessors. Fatalities are rarer now, but risk is never zero.“I would like to do it”: When Max Verstappen expressed his desire to drive a NASCAR car to Connor ZilischMax Verstappen (L) of Red Bull Racing at Baku City Circuit and (R) Connor Zilisch before the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. (Getty Images)Max Verstappen has not ruled out stock-car driving entirely. At a recent Red Bull event, he crossed paths with Connor Zilisch, the young Trackhouse/Red Bull-linked prospect, and exchanged a short, friendly back-and-forth.When Zilisch nudged the conversation toward NASCAR, and asked (via Trackhouse Racing):"You wanna get in," pointing to his car.Max Verstappen replied:“I mean I would like to do it.”Though casual, the moment reflected Max Verstappen’s curiosity toward oval racing, even if he remains cautious about the risks. He now prepares for the upcoming Brazilian Grand Prix, with four races left in the 2025 F1 season.The NASCAR Cup Series, meanwhile, wrapped up its 2025 campaign last weekend and now enters the off-season. The grid will return on Sunday, February 1, 2026, for the Cook Out Clash exhibition at Bowman Gray Stadium, followed by the 68th Daytona 500 on February 15.
