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A pair of F1 drivers took a NASCAR car for a spin and explained what was scary and difficult about the switch

Cork Gaines   

A pair of F1 drivers took a NASCAR car for a spin and explained what was scary and difficult about the switch
  • F1 drivers Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen drove a NASCAR stock car around the Charlotte roval.
  • Both drivers admitted it was scary as passengers when the other was driving.

Driving rockets on wheels for a living doesn't mean you can just hop into any race car and immediately feel comfortable, something a pair of Formula One drivers recently learned.

Haas drivers Mick Schumacher and Kevin Magnussen recently got a chance to take a NASCAR stock car for a spin. The teammates visited Charlotte Motor Speedway and hopped in a car from their sister team, Stewart-Haas Racing.

After they got some pointers from NASCAR driver Chase Briscoe, the F1 pair got a shot behind the much larger wheel.

"NASCAR, it is a different animal to a Formula One car," Magnussen said. "When you drive a NASCAR, as a Formula One driver, it's like you have never driven a race car before. It's completely different. It's a lot heavier. It doesn't have any downforce."

They also noted how difficult it was to get into the car and were surprised by how much grip the car had on the track. However, the biggest difference was the brakes.

"The brakes aren't really made for braking," Magnussen said with a laugh.

Briscoe noted that both drivers were "blown away" by how weak the brakes were compared to F1.

"[NASCAR cars] definitely don't stop good," Briscoe said. "That's the biggest thing Kevin and Mick both were just blown away at, was just how bad the braking was. I was telling them where they should start braking, and they thought I was messing with them."

While both drivers impressed Briscoe with how quickly they picked up the nuances of the car, that doesn't mean it wasn't scary, especially when they were in the passenger seat.

"When you are a passenger, it feels so crazy," Magnussen said, later adding: "Driving as a passenger with Mick, it was so cool, but a little scary. As a passenger, you feel so vulnerable and out of control. It feels a lot faster when you are a passenger. It feels way scarier than when you are driving yourself."

Watch the full video below.

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