rewrite this title Will Buxton partners Max Verstappen with Connor Zilisch to form dream Red Bull IndyCar team

On the latest episode of FOX Sports’ “SPEED With Harvick and Buxton” podcast, host Will Buxton floated an unusual idea involving Max Verstappen and NASCAR prospect Connor Zilisch while answering a fan question about building a dream motorsports team.

Former NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick joins Buxton on the twice-a-week program, which covers all major motorsports. During a fan segment, both were asked which drivers they would sign if they could run their own team. Buxton said (35:25 onwards):

“It probably sounds like a copout, but I’d take an IndyCar team because I genuinely love the championship. I think it’s going places. The racing is super exciting, and right now it’s a great championship to invest in and to get sponsors involved with. Who’s got the money to compete in Formula 1? What’s Cadillac spent so far? A billion dollars or something like that.”

The IndyCar broadcaster then suggested a lineup that would combine one of the biggest stars in global motorsport with one of NASCAR’s fastest-rising young drivers.

“So I’d have an IndyCar team. I would try and convince Max Verstappen to join because it’s Max… Who wouldn’t love to see Max take on the Indy 500? And something a bit different for him. And I’m stealing Connor Zilisch from you guys,” Buxton continued.

“And you never know, if we got those two, maybe we’d get Red Bull back on board and have a Red Bull-backed Verstappen-Zilisch super team in IndyCar,” he added.

While the idea sounds exciting, Max Verstappen has been clear about his future interests outside F1. The Dutch driver recently ruled out both NASCAR and IndyCar as potential destinations once he steps away from F1 competition.

Instead, Verstappen has shown interest in endurance racing. He secured his GT3 license and won at Nordschleife in 2025, and has spoken about competing in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The four-time world champion is also interested in the World Endurance Championship, particularly the Hypercar category, as well as events such as the 24 Hours of Spa and Bathurst 1000.

Harvick, meanwhile, said he would build the team around Joey Logano as a veteran leader, while pairing him with rising prospect Corey Heim.

Will Buxton questions F1 direction as Kevin Harvick highlights Max Verstappen’s concerns

On the same show, Buxton and Harvick also discussed F1’s new regulations, which have sparked a debate after the opening weekend of the 2026 season. Max Verstappen and company were seen lifting earlier in straights to recharge batteries in the Australian GP, and race strategies revolved around energy conservation.

Kevin Harvick compared the situation to the NASCAR Next Gen car introduced in 2022. Will Buxton argued that the approach challenges what drivers expect from the top level of motorsport.

“You want to get to Formula 1,” Buxton said. “Every step of the way the cars get bigger, louder, faster. You need more commitment, more bravery. To then think you’re three-quarters of the way down a straight and you have to lift and coast… that doesn’t scream pinnacle of racing to me.”

Harvick agreed, pointing out that driver frustration could quickly become a major issue for the series. He said:

“You’ve got a multi-time world champion, Max Verstappen, saying he’s going to go do something else because he just doesn’t want to drive the car anymore. You’ve got a big problem.”

The wider debate around the new F1 regulations has already drawn reactions from fans and drivers across several racing series, including NASCAR.

Edited by Parag Jain