Formula 1 doesn’t usually get it wrong, but it appears right now they may have allowed a generational talent to slip through their fingers. <\/b><\/p>\n
\nAnd it is NASCAR reaping the rewards as Connor Zilisch has been one of the stories of the 2025 season to date. Still just 19 years old he has racked up seven Xfinity Series victories in a glorious year so far. <\/p>\n
\nBigger things are set to come too with the terrific teenager due to compete fulltime in the Cup Series with Trackhouse in 2026 – a prospect which should have NASCAR fans gleaming with excitement.. <\/p>\n
\nBut NASCAR\u2019s gain is absolutely F1\u2019s loss according to Cup Series great Kevin Harvick, who won it all back in 2014. Zilisch, it should be noted, is a Red Bull athlete after all. <\/p>\n
F1 loses, NASCAR wins<\/p>\n
\nSpeaking on his \u2018Happy Hour\u2019 podcast<\/a>, Harvick gushed about the potential Zilisch has inside a car, and his personality off the track.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cConnor\u2019s a great kid. He\u2019s the type of person that everybody wants to root for. He\u2019s personable. He\u2019s got a great demeanour in the way that he carries himself, and people are gonna love him.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cI think as you go through time, they are gonna love him for who he is, let alone the fact he can drive the snot out of that car.
<\/p>\n \n\u201cConnor Zilisch could have went to F1 and been the American F1 racer. He was the most recent miss by Formula 1.\u201d
<\/p>\n Harvick and the ‘Godzilisch’ story<\/p>\n \nHarvick himself played a very important part in the \u2018Godzilisch\u2019 story so far – notably through one very important conversation a few years ago, which Connor himself referenced earlier this week.
<\/p>\n \nAt that stage Zilisch figured he was heading to college and not a career in pro racing, until Harvick told his dad it was time for a rethink.
<\/p>\n \nHarvick added: \u201cThat conversation that he\u2019s talking about with his dad, it happened outside the airport. I\u2019m like \u2018Man, you gotta figure it out. You can\u2019t send this kid to college, you at least gotta give him a shot\u2019.\u201d
<\/p>\n \nF1 HEADLINES:<\/b> Verstappen in FIA summons as Hamilton ‘complains’ over issue<\/a>
<\/p>\n \nREAD MORE:<\/b> Cadillac confirm driver lineup as axed F1 stars return<\/a>
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