Max Verstappen beats 100 kart drivers in 35 minutes at Silverstone

Event format and rules

Red Bull organized the Max vs 100 exhibition on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, on an adapted karting track within the Silverstone circuit in Northamptonshire. Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen started from 101st position on the grid, positioned behind a field of 100 amateur drivers. The opposing roster included content creators, streamers, television personalities, Red Bull athletes, and journalists, with no professional racing drivers among them. Organizers gave the 28-year-old Dutch driver a maximum of 75 minutes and between 30 and 35 laps to pass every competitor. Under the competition rules, any driver overtaken by Verstappen was immediately eliminated and had to steer off the track.

First-lap collisions and progress

The race began with immediate disruption when a pile-up involving more than 30 karts blocked the circuit shortly after the start. Verstappen gained initial momentum off the line by bouncing his weight in the seat and navigated through the grass to bypass stalled machines. He completed 64 overtakes on the opening lap alone, rising to 37th position before marshals deployed a full-course yellow flag to manage the track blockage. Racing resumed on lap two with Verstappen positioned in 35th place, and he continued moving past opponents as they tangled in corners. By the conclusion of the fifth lap, Verstappen had eliminated 80% of the starting field.

Recovery and frontrunner pursuit

Verstappen continued his climb through the running order despite a mistake on lap seven, where he ran wide into the grass and dislodged an onboard camera after contacting a curb and another kart. He recovered quickly, reaching sixth place by lap six and entering the top five at the 20-minute mark on lap eight. By lap ten, Verstappen moved into fourth position, leaving only three competitors ahead on the track. The lead group comprised YouTuber Zac Alsop, Red Bull engine builder Lewis Osler, and Dutch Formula 1 journalist Jacky Martens, who had started the event from pole position. Organizers granted all three frontrunners special permission to take a track shortcut on a designated fast lap to defend their positions.

Final pass and race reactions

Verstappen caught and passed the final trio, completing the decisive move on Martens to win the challenge after 35 minutes and 14 laps. He finished the contest with 40 minutes and at least 16 laps remaining from his initial allowance. The race was broadcast live on ESPN via Disney+ and featured open radio communications between the commentary booth, competitors, and Verstappen.

I thought my first lap would be more complicated than that, but I took advantage of the excitement of people running into each other to pass many stalled opponents.

Verstappen joked after the race about the ranking of the exhibition among his career accomplishments.

That was simply lovely. It was a lot of fun.