Put Max Verstappen at the very back of a Formula 1 grid, and there’s only so much he can realistically do. I mean, sure, chances are he’ll still score some points, but winning the race would be hard, even for him. However, put him behind 100 amateur racers in identical go-karts, and things get rather interesting.
That was the idea behind Max vs 100, a wonderfully chaotic karting challenge held at Silverstone in the UK. The four-time F1 world champion started dead last with a “simple” objective: pass everyone ahead of him.
Naturally, squeezing 101 karts onto the same circuit created exactly the sort of mayhem you’d expect. Verstappen still carved through the pack at a pace that made the whole exercise look almost unfair.
The challenge was broadcast by ESPN on Disney+, giving viewers an onboard look as Verstappen attempted to fight his way through the enormous field. What followed was a chaotic reminder that even without an F1 car underneath him, Verstappen is frighteningly quick.
Verstappen Wasted No Time
Once the green flag dropped, Verstappen immediately started threading his way between the amateur racers. ESPN’s commentators reckoned he had already dispatched around 10 competitors before even crossing the start line.
To keep the circuit from remaining hopelessly congested, competitors were eliminated once Verstappen overtook them. The format gradually cleared the track and gave the remaining drivers an increasingly uncomfortable view of the F1 champion closing in.
There was another twist designed to give the amateurs a fighting chance. Drivers could use a shortcut dubbed the “Chucky lap,” named after McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown’s comparison of Verstappen to the horror character who seemingly never goes away.
Even 100 Karts Couldn’t Stop Him
Verstappen was already running 37th within minutes and continued picking off drivers as the field thinned. By lap eight, he had broken into the top five and was hunting the leaders.
The remaining racers didn’t simply surrender, either. Defensive driving, three-wide battles, and some light contact made Verstappen work for the final positions, while radio communication between the F1 star and competitors added to the fun.
Eventually, only one kart remained. Verstappen made his final pass after 35 minutes, completing the challenge and triggering celebrations on the Silverstone podium.
Back To Where It All Started
Karting holds particular significance for Verstappen, who spent years competing internationally before reaching Formula 1. Returning to something far simpler than an F1 car gave him an opportunity to revisit those roots.
“It was great to just be back in a go-kart again and go back to basics,” Verstappen said afterward, adding that the experience reminded him of racing earlier in his career.
He also jokingly called it his “first win of the year” after completing the challenge. It may not count toward his F1 statistics, but passing 100 people in 35 minutes isn’t a bad consolation prize.