How would an F1 driver would perform in a NASCAR-style stock car? How about on a dirt, oval track? Now, live on the Red Bull Motorsports YouTube channel, those questions are put to the test. Visa Cash App RB drivers Yuki Tsunoda and Liam Lawson unlearned all they know about open-wheel F1 racing as they paired with NASCAR pros Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch in Austin, TX to try their hand at naturally aspirated V8 stock car racing. Check it out here: F1 Drivers vs. Stock Car.
In the YouTube piece just released, the F1 drivers are introduced to a set of 3 racing challenges they must complete before a final, winner-take-all race. It’s also in this briefing that Liam and Yuki learn the stock cars have only 3 brakes instead of 4. The three challenges each driver must complete are:
- Find the Line – 6 sets of cones are placed on the track forcing Yuki and Liam to approach turn each with just the right blend of speed and steering matched with braking and throttling. It’s this first challenge the F1 drivers quickly learn the technique in maneuvering the high line vs. the low line.
- Cornering Speed – To be successful in this challenge, the F1 drivers must find the [nearly] perfect happy medium of going just fast enough into the corner, but not too fast that it would force a spin out, but not too slow where controlling the 500hp car into the corner becomes noncooperative.
- Qualifying Lap – The only goal of this challenge – gun it for setting the fastest speed as the winner of this challenge will decide the starting grid for the main race based on fastest lap time.
Watch the episode to find out which driver had the fastest qualifying time by 0.0461 seconds, and if they earned the upper hand heading into the final race.
Some quick background on Shane and Connor too- Shane, a New Zealand native, last year became the first driver to win their Cup Series debut in over 60 years. He also now holds a NASCAR record after he set the fastest lap in the NextGen vehicle at a blistering 199.438 mph at Talladega. Connor just recently also made a huge splash of his own, winning in his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series start in September at Watkins Glen, less than two months after his 18th birthday. Liam and Yuki couldn’t ask for better teachers for this challenge.
