Kyle Larson is NOT going to Red Bull

At least NASCAR made the right decision in giving a waiver to the best driver in the world after rain blew Larson's chance to do the Indy 500-Coke 600 double

Since we recorded our podcast last night with the fantastic and dreamy Zack from The Gay Racing Podcast, there’s been some news: Kyle Larson got his waiver from NASCAR and will be eligible for the playoffs, and Red Bull announced a new two-year deal for Sergio Pérez. So much for the idea of a jilted Larson leaving stock cars for the seat next to Max Verstappen with the defending world constructors champions.

How long will Red Bull reign? It’s easy to think of F1 being a dynastic sport because it has been — Red Bull is working on a three-peat, Mercedes won eight in a row before that, with Red Bull (then with a Renault engine) taking the previous four titles.

The last time F1 had three different constructors win titles in three years was 2008-10, with Ferrari, Brawn-Mercedes, and the first of those four Red Bull-Renault triumphs. Maybe it’s wishful thinking as a Ferrari fan, but it’s Pérez’s struggles that have helped open the door for the Scuderia to close the gap to 26 points at the season’s one-third mark. Put aside all the Christian Horner stuff, because he’s a rich white man who will absolutely get away with his misdeeds, Pérez staying while car designer Adrian Newey is leaving is a combination of personnel moves that presents a further opening for rivals beyond this season.

There’s also matter of the changes to the cars themselves, coming in 2026. Such an overhaul always presents an opportunity for competitive change. When we get there, could we be looking at maybe having that third champion in three years again? On a day when the news was Pérez staying put, the changing landscape of F1 is right there to see, and it should be an exciting time over the next bunch of seasons.