Max Verstappen wrapped up his fourth straight Formula 1 World Championship in Las Vegas, proving once again why he’s the king of modern open-wheeled motorsport. With two races left in the season, Verstappen’s early dominance and resilience against fierce competition from Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, and others secured him the title.

But while the champagne was still flowing in Vegas, an unexpected ripple was making waves on social media. NASCAR’s Daniel Suárez, a friend of Verstappen, posted a cheeky Instagram congratulations, and then things got really interesting when Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 chimed in with a cryptic comment. Naturally, fans got to work investigating.

A post, a question, and speculation

Daniel Suárez, pilot of the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro for Trackhouse Racing, became acquainted with Verstappen a few years ago as they were introduced by their respective partners. The girls happened to be sisters, Julia and Kelly, the daughters of three-time Formula 1 champion Nelson Piquet.

On Instagram, Daniel shared a congratulatory post for Verstappen as he crossed the line in fifth place to secure his fourth title putting him alongside legends of the sport like Schumacher, Hamilton, Vettel, Prost, and Fangio:

“Congratulations mate!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆 Here’s to many more Mario Kart games and busting our 🍑 playing soap soccer 🤣.”

It was the kind of post you’d expect from friends who’ve shared more than a few laughs off the track.

But then, in the comment section, Trackhouse’s Project 91 account jumped in with a simple but loaded message:

“Can you ask him a question for us?”

That’s it. It’s just one line, but it was enough to pique the interest of the motorsport corners of Reddit and Twitter. Fans quickly began speculating if this was a hint at something big—a potential Max Verstappen cameo in NASCAR. This is because Trackhouse 91 has previously had famous F1 driver Kimi Raikkonen in their Chevrolet. Understandably, fans got excited at the possibility of Verstappen making a NASCAR appearance.

On Reddit, fans let their imaginations run wild. One user joked, “Amigo can sell Max on a Cup race easily by telling him he can swear as much as he wants.” referring to the recent dramatics between the FIA and their F1 drivers regarding the curbing derogatory language and swearing. Another chimed in, “Max Verstappen Daytona 500 one-off would be great.”

But not everyone thought it was likely. “I reckon this is just the social media admin(s) having fun,” one user commented, while another humorously suggested, “It would be funny if this is just one admin talking to themselves.”

Then came the optimists, who couldn’t resist the idea of a dream matchup between Verstappen and NASCAR stars. “I’d give up a limb to see Larson and Max fight it out,” said one passionate fan. Kyle Larson famously said, “I know in my mind I am better than him as an all-around driver,” which caused a stir on social media with fans of each faction defending their driver. However, Max, when asked about it, calmly responded with, “That’s fine. Everyone thinks their own way, right?”

Even Verstappen’s online racing habits became part of the debate. “He’s an absolute weapon in iRacing ovals,” one user noted, “but he definitely needs to learn oval etiquette.” Another user responded with a laugh, “Every time I’ve been in a race with him, someone takes him out.”

And while Verstappen’s potential interest in oval racing remains up in the air, his openness to trying new motorsport disciplines fueled the fire. Verstappen has been vocal about his desire to explore life beyond F1, saying he doesn’t see himself staying in the series into his 40s like some of his colleagues. Could that include a NASCAR stint?

Project 91: Bringing international stars to NASCAR

If Verstappen did take the leap, he’d be following in the footsteps of some impressive names thanks to Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 program. Launched in 2022, the initiative aims to bring international racing stars into the NASCAR Cup Series.

The program debuted with 2007 Formula 1 Champion Kimi Räikkönen, who competed at Watkins Glen and Circuit of the Americas. But the real game-changer came this year when Australian Supercars legend Shane van Gisbergen shocked the motorsport world by winning the Chicago Street Race in his NASCAR debut.

Van Gisbergen’s win led to a deeper partnership with Trackhouse, with plans for him to compete across all three national NASCAR series in 2024. Meanwhile, other international stars, including Jenson Button and Kamui Kobayashi, have also made Cup Series appearances, further proving that NASCAR is trying to embrace a global future.

Fans are hopeful, with some dreaming of big names like Max Verstappen or Daniel Ricciardo stepping into a stock car. “The only thing better than Daniel Ricciardo starting a NASCAR race would be Daniel Ricciardo starting a NASCAR race in a Dale Earnhardt Sr. throwback,” dreamed one fan.

For now, the idea of Verstappen joining NASCAR remains a fun “what if.” Whether it’s just a social media admin having a laugh or a real conversation behind closed doors, one thing is clear: fans are here for it.