News Summary
- Max Verstappen overtook all 100 rivals after starting 101st in the Max vs 100 karting challenge at Silverstone.
- The four-time F1 champion completed the task in 14 laps and around 35 minutes, well inside the 30-lap limit.
- Verstappen said returning to karting and going “back to basics” reminded him of his early years in racing.
Max Verstappen enjoyed the opportunity to go “back to basics” after returning to karting and completing Red Bull’s unusual Max vs 100 challenge at Silverstone.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion started 101st and last and was tasked with overtaking every one of the 100 drivers ahead of him within a maximum of 30 laps. He needed only around 35 minutes and completed the challenge on lap 14.
The event took place on a specially designed circuit at Silverstone and brought together fans, athletes, content creators and other personalities. Once Verstappen drew level with the front of another competitor’s kart, that driver was eliminated from the challenge.
Despite his enormous experience, even Verstappen admitted that looking down the grid before the start made the task appear more intimidating than expected.
“When I went to the grid and I saw where I had to start, with 100 karts in front of me, I was a little bit worried,” Verstappen said.
That concern did not last long.
The opening lap was chaotic, but Verstappen quickly realised he had the pace and opportunities required to cut through the enormous field. He climbed from 101st to 37th during the first lap alone before continuing his charge towards the leaders.
“After my first lap, with all the carnage, I did think, ‘Okay, we have got this under control!'” he continued. “It started to become really fun and once I started getting into a rhythm, was able to overtake them one-by-one and saw the gap closing, that was really exciting.”me fez lembrar das corridas de antigamente”, afirmou Verstappen.
Verstappen returns to his karting roots
The challenge carried an additional significance for Verstappen because karting formed the foundation of his career long before he reached F1.
The Dutchman first drove a kart at 4 years old and was competing in championships by the age of 7. He remained in karting until his teenage years before making the rapid transition through single-seaters that ultimately took him to Formula 1.
More than a decade after leaving the discipline behind as a full-time competitor, Verstappen said climbing back into a kart brought back memories of those formative years.
“It was great to just be back in a go-kart again and go back to basics, it reminded me of racing back in the day,” Verstappen said.
Before the event, Verstappen had already explained that karting taught him many of the fundamentals he still uses in racing, including starts, defending and overtaking. His extensive childhood experience also meant he saw little reason for additional preparation before taking on the challenge.
That instinct quickly returned at Silverstone.
With 100 opponents to negotiate, outright lap time was only part of the challenge. Verstappen also had to anticipate traffic, identify gaps before they disappeared and avoid incidents as the enormous field compressed during the opening stages.
Race director and circuit designer David Terrien highlighted precisely that ability after watching Verstappen navigate a situation unprecedented in karting.
“Every time there was a gap, he went for it,” Terrien said. “He sees a gap that’s going to open and it’s not open yet.”
Verstappen eventually reached the final competitors with more than half of the allotted distance still available and completed the task without needing anything close to the full 30 laps.
The result provided a rare opportunity for the Red Bull driver to enjoy racing away from the pressures of his difficult 2026 F1 campaign. But for Verstappen, the attraction appeared to be simpler than that: returning to the machinery in which he first learned how to race.
“I had a great day and it was good to come out with the win,” he said.
Formula 1 returns with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku from September 24-26. GRANDE PRÊMIO continues to follow all the latest F1 news and developments.
FAQ
How did Max Verstappen beat 100 drivers at Silverstone?
Verstappen started 101st and last and had to overtake every rival within 30 laps. A competitor was eliminated once Verstappen drew level with the front of their kart. He completed the entire challenge in around 35 minutes.
How many laps did Verstappen need in Max vs 100?
Verstappen completed the Max vs 100 challenge on lap 14, far inside the maximum 30 laps available to him.
Did Max Verstappen race karts before Formula 1?
Yes. Verstappen began karting as a young child and competed extensively before moving into single-seaters. He has described karting as where drivers learn fundamentals including starts, defending and overtaking.
