Max Verstappen has proved to motorsport fans once more how talented he is but this time he was not on the grid of F1 rivals. Instead, he started behind 100 amateur go-karters in an unusual challenge at Silverstone. The event (101 karts on a specially designed circuit) has gone viral on social media.
The challenge was simple but funny: can Verstappen overtake 100 drivers and get to the front of the field? Starting from the back, the four-time Formula 1 world champion had to navigate through a huge group of racers while dealing with traffic, changing gaps and the unpredictability of close quarters karting.
Red Bull’s collaboration with Disney+ and ESPN for the event turned the iconic Silverstone into the site of an extraordinary motorsport experiment. Silverstone is usually associated with Formula 1 racing so in reality it was a very different experience for hundreds of amateur drivers of the sort that would now be on the circuit with one of the world's most successful racing drivers.
The challenge was designed for 30 laps, with a maximum time limit of 75 minutes. Verstappen didn’t require anywhere near that time for it to be completed. After starting behind all 100 competitors, the F1 star gradually worked his way through the field and reached the front about 35 minutes from the start.
The event was attended by Red Bull athletes, professional gamers, content creators, motorsport journalists and competition winners from different parts of the world. Unlike Verstappen, many of the participants were still getting familiar with the specially constructed karting circuit.
Max Verstappen took down all 100 drivers in 35 minutes 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/TxDhVjZB7K
— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) September 16, 2026
The drivers had only two previous opportunities to see the track before the main challenge. They had a practice session on Tuesday before returning for qualifying on Wednesday. Verstappen was therefore facing a large field of competitors who were still relatively new to the circuit and that added an extra dimension to the unusual competition.
The technology and presentation of the race was the most interesting aspect of the event. The karts had proximity-chat intercoms so that drivers could communicate and add an interactive vibe to the competition. Users could also follow tracking information and a gaming-like leaderboard while drones flew in from above.
Tech, entertainment and high-level driving had turned the race into something like a real-life racing video game. Rather than just watching a traditional karting race, people could follow Verstappen’s progress as he picked off competitors one after another.
For the amateur drivers, sharing a circuit with a Formula 1 world champion was an unusual opportunity to experience the difference between recreational karting and elite-level racing. Verstappen had to do more than just run fast. With 100 karts ahead of him, he had to find clean opportunities to overtake.
The challenge also underscored the racecraft that has come to define Verstappen’s status in Formula 1. He started from the rear so he had to make many overtakes and not just take track space. He had to judge positioning, timing and the drivers around him for each move.
The viral footage has been intriguing to motorsport fans because of its unusual format and the sheer scale of the challenge. 101 karts on the purpose-built circuit made for an impressive visual spectacle and Verstappen's fast progress through the field was the central storyline.
Though the event was mostly for entertainment and not a competitive race, Verstappen proved yet again how good he is at driving. From F1 circuits to a bustling karting track the Dutch driver had to win and put the game on display.
The video continues to be shared online and Max Verstappen versus 100 drivers has become an iconic moment in motorsport entertainment. It was an out-of-the-box type of race, with amateur racers and one of Formula 1’s biggest stars going head to head to create a race as much about the experience as the final result.
