*Updated for 2025 F1 grid*
Formula 1 may be perceived as the pinnacle of motorsport by many, but in America NASCAR is still the number 1 racing series to watch.
In the past some F1 drivers have decided to make the switch to NASCAR after their time in Formula 1 is over. So to preempt what that may look like for the current grid of F1 drivers, I’ve used FaceApp to convert them to NASCAR racers.
F1 drivers in NASCAR
There’s been a number of Formula 1 drivers who’ve decided to try their hand at NASCAR when their time in F1 is up. From the modern era of Formula 1, some of these drivers include:
- Jenson Button
- Kimi Raikkonen
- Juan-Pablo Montoya
- Jacques Villeneuve
- Daniil Kvyat
- Nelson Piquet Jr
Of those listed above, Juan-Pablo Montoya was by far the most successful in NASCAR. The Colombian driver took two wins and nine podiums in the Cup series before moving on to IndyCar.
Montoya is undeniably one of the most talented F1 drivers in recent history. But not all drivers were able to get to grips with the lack of downforce and fender-to-fender nature of NASCAR, especially when it came to oval racing. No other driver on that list above has ever had a podium finish in the series.
Current F1 drivers as NASCAR drivers
Out of intruige (and to keep me occupied more than anything else) I thought I’d see if I could use FaceApp’s AI to covert the 2025 grid of Formula 1 drivers to budding NASCAR racers.
As you’ll see there are some themes that emerge with the way our budding oval racers look, so please try and see the light-hearted side of it.
Their move to North America appears to have got them well acquainted with the vast array of fast food options the States has to offer. And with all that time on the road between the different races it seems they’ve very much partaken in their fair share of Bojangles, Raising Cane’s and Cook Out.
Gentleman, start your engines.
Away from the spot of the world’s media at everyone Formula 1 race, the current world champ Max Verstappen has evidently decided to let his grooming take a bit of a back seat.
Max’s new teammate is Liam Lawson. And if he gives up on F1 and heads state-side for some Oval action, it looks like the first thing he’s going to do is get himself a Hollywood smile.
The biggest talking point of 2025 is Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari. If he moves to NASCAR, however, it looks like he’s going to be carrying a few extra pounds…
Charles Leclerc is the heathrob of the F1 grid. And even if he joins the NASCAR grid his charming good looks will still be there, just under a couple of extra rolls of skin.
George Russell has evidently been enjoying the Florida sunshine. His tan is almost the perfect amount of orange, his goatee is neatly trimmed and his glasses make him look just the part for the middle-aged oval racer role.
Here’s another new boy, Kimi Antonelli. Kimi is the youngest on the F1 grid in 2025. So to make up for his lack of age an experience, if he moves to NASCAR he’s got a full beard and long hair – West coast van life vibes.
Popular right now:
Alonso has already had the longest F1 career of any driver in history. It would only be right if he continued competing in motorsport when he does eventually leave the Formula 1 paddock.
He’s previously competed in two Indy 500s, so turning his attention to the Daytona 500 in the NASCAR series would be the next logical step. Expect to see him racing well in to his 70s at this rate.
Apparently this is Lance Stroll. I see it, just. I think Daddy must have been feeding him to get him all big and strong before he hits the ovals.
Lando Lando Lando. He’s gone from the adorable kid who streams on Twitch in Formula 1 to a bad-boy Machine Gun Kelly wannabe in his NASCAR guise.
Oh my. Oscar, is that you? I don’t know if you’d class this a glow up or not, but he’s definitely glowing. So much so that he’s now pretty much the same shade of papaya as his race suit.
See you at Daytona soon.
It’s Yuki. With a lot of extra weight. And not much hair. And some racey glasses.
Another rookie on the 2025 grid is the Frenchman Isack Hadjar. Maybe if F1 doesn’t work out there’s a place for him at Talledega?
Esteban Ocon changed from Alpine to HAAS for the 2025 season. Stewart-HAAS did have a NASCAR team until the end of 2024, so if he wants to make the switch he’ll have to look elsewhere.
Great teeth though.
Ollie Bearman is another rookie in 2025. And I think if he goes to NASCAR one day then being bald definitely suits him. As long as he grows that beard.
Alex Albon goes back to his blonde-hair ways and hits the Waffle House a little too hard when he ventures over to NASCAR.
Sainz has topped up his spanish tan in the North Carolina sunshine, had his teeth whitened and grown quite the ‘tash. All to get him ready for oval racing.
Somehow Gasly seems to have grown one heck of a beard and got younger at the same time.
Jack Doohan seems to look better as a NASCAR driver.
When Nico Hulkenberg gets bored of never finishing on the podium, maybe he’ll make the jump to NASCAR instead. If he does it looks like he’ll be older, greyer and a little heavier.
Finally it’s another rookie, Gabriel Bortoleo. And JEES. Those teeth.
Geez, that is what AI thinks? You must of modified. Why don’t you look at actually NASCAR Cup Drivers. https://www.nascar.com/drivers/nascar-cup-series/
Note, they do train hard, most eat right, most are small in stature and race hard, but they do handle a 3200 lb car around, mostly ovals with banked corners but several road courses and at least one street course. I’d like to see any current F1 driver tackle Talladega a 2.66 mile high banked tri-oval track, or Daytona, and throw in a couple short tracks like the world’s fastest .5 mile in Bristol, or even Martinsville and Atlanta.
Yeah, a 3200lb car with power steering and brakes, oval circuits…not that hard actually. Don’t think an F1 driver would have too much trouble there lol
That really wasn’t the point! It was disparging NASCAR and impling their drivers are unfit fat fuckers. But OK, they really don’t have power steering, like a tradional car, races aren’t 2 hrs long but over 3 hrs and some are 4+ hours inside a cockpit nearing 150° F with high humidity. Plus there are no paddle shifting, no DRS. Yes majority tracks are ovals but the do race road circuits too.
Fair point, I know the drivers endure tough conditions during a race and they have to be in pretty good shape to cope with it, whether on race tracks or ovals, but I would say that F1 drivers are better able to cope due to the amount of high g-forces they are subjected to every race. Not to mention how hot it can get in the cockpits.
Well there have been only 2 F1 drivers to ever win in NASCAR, Mario Andretti won the the 1967 Daytona 500 (tri-oval), his only win out of 14 starts and Juan Pablo Montoyo 2 wins out of 255 starts both his wins were on road courses, Sonoma and Watkins Glen.
Really? Nice facts, but that was called humour.. 😅
Not so humorous when it disparages another race series F1 people don’t understand.