As the Fastest Man Alive, there are few foes that can keep up with DC Comics' the physics-altering Speed Force, he may as well be standing still. Despite this, Pietro Maximoff does actually have one advantage he can use to come out ahead.
During the epic DC vs. Marvel crossover, Quicksilver and Flash fought for the fate of their worlds, and Pietro proved he knew exactly how to beat the Scarlet Speedster. Pitted against each other by cosmic forces outside their control, Marvel and DC heroes were matched against their other-dimensional equivalents - a match-up that left Quicksilver hugely outmatched. And unfortunately for the twin brother of the Scarlet Witch, the only way to win was by tapping into his worst impulses.
Marvel vs. DC #2 by Peter David, Claudio Castellini, and Dan Jurgens pairs the two iconic speedsters against one another for a whirlwind battle at hyper-velocity. Initially, the Flash has the clear upper hand. But when their battle puts innocent bystanders at jeopardy, Wally West immediately moves to save the citizens with his signature lightning speed - leaving Quicksilver a moment to strike. Taking advantage of the Flash’s distractedness, Pietro seizes the moment and begins hammering the Flash with a flurry of fists, all the while lamenting that the only way he could win was to take advantage of Wally’s heroism by letting him charge to the rescue, then taking advantage of his distracted state.
Quicksilver Is Slower, But He's Also Meaner
To Pietro's credit, he's deeply ashamed of his actions, to the extent that he pauses his assault for a fraction of a second - long enough for Flash to attack in kind and score a win for the DC heroes. While Quicksilver is soundly defeated, his ruthlessness and rage actually gave him a fighting chance. It’s clear that heroes like the Flash are faster than Pietro, so the only way for him to win his to be smarter, and ultimately more ruthless. And although it may not be his proudest practice, ruthlessness comes easy for a founding member of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants.
Though he may be best known as a classic member of the Avengers, Quicksilver has had more than a few walks on the dark side since becoming a hero. Tapping into this darker nature, as well as the more calculating teachings of his adoptive father Magneto, essentially gives Pietro an edge against more upstanding opponents, even if that inner darkness is something of which he’s greatly ashamed. Quicksilver doesn't have the same hesitation to lash out that squeaky-clean heroes like Flash do, and when it comes to speedsters, hesitation can make all the difference.
The Flash may be the Fastest Man Alive, but he’s also a fun-loving hero who prefers to run rings around his opponents than lay them out. For all his heroism, Quicksilver is far more naturally brutal, and his skewed morality allows him to do what other heroes won't, up to and including sacrificing others for a worthy cause. Quicksilver can't outrace the Flash, but he does have a way to win, as DC vs Marvel proved for good.
