Ryan Blaney shuts down viral F1 claim after long-awaited NASCAR win
After winning his first NASCAR Cup Series race of the season in Nashville, Ryan Blaney went online to shut down rumors that he's leaving the circuit for F1
It only took Ryan Blaney one word and a few days, fresh off winning his first Cup Series race of the season at Nashville Superspeedway, to shut down rumors suggesting a switch to Formula 1 racing.
After a report indicated the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion is jumping to Formula 1 with the new Cadillac team on Tuesday, Blaney responded Thursday with a quote tweet that only read, "Nah." Whispers claimed spokespeople from Cadillac F1 reached Blaney's Team Penske about a likely F1 vehicle test so that he could work toward an FIA Super License.
The post came just days after Blaney notched his first win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, taking the checkered flag for the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday night. The win placed Blaney in the running for the end-of-the-year playoffs alongside Penske teammates Austin Cindric, who won at Talladega Superspeedway, and Joey Logano, who earned a victory at Texas Motor Speedway.
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As of February 2025, the NASCAR Cup Series is one of the recognized racing series eligible for Super Licence points. Winning a race earns a driver 15 points, with second and third place earning 12 and 10 points, respectively. Drivers need 40 points over a rolling three-year span to qualify.
Across the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Blaney captured six wins, racked up nine second-place finishes, and 43 top-ten finishes that would place him well above the threshold. His 2023 campaign featured a playoff hot streak, including wins at Charlotte, Talladega, and Martinsville. That postseason dominance helped him clinch the NASCAR Cup Series title.
In 2024, Blaney earned victories in Iowa, Pocono, and another Martinsville playoff run. Through 14 races in 2025, he already has a win at Nashville and top-five finishes at Kansas, Texas, Bristol, Darlington, and Atlanta.
"I never gave up hope, that's for sure," said Blaney after the race. "We’ve had great speed all year; it just hasn't been the best year for us regarding good fortune. The 12 boys are awesome. They stick with it no matter how it goes, and it was great to finish one out now."
In the leadup to the Coca-Cola 600, Blaney said he "always considered" to attempt the double, participating in the event and the Indy 500 on the same day. "You never know, maybe down the road if I get a chance. I'm with a great team that has a chance to do it, but we’ll see," he said. "You never know. We’ll figure it out."
DON'T MISS
The Cadillac F1 connection is part of Andretti Global’s effort to enter Formula 1 as a full-time team. Their bid for the grid in the 2026 season has been confirmed, supported by General Motors and TWG Motorsports. Cadillac F1 will be the 11th team in the FIA Formula One Championship.
President and CEO of Formula 1 Stefano Domenicali said, "As we said in November, the commitment by General Motors to bring a Cadillac team to Formula 1 was an important and positive demonstration of the evolution of our sport. I want to thank GM and TWG Motorsports for their constructive engagement over many months and look forward to welcoming the team on the grid from 2026 for another exciting year for Formula 1."
