Max Verstappen will take on 100 opponents in a unique karting race at Silverstone on September 16, with Red Bull organising a special event around its four-time Formula 1 world champion. Called “Max vs 100”, the challenge will see Max Verstappen start from the back of a huge field and attempt to overtake every one of his rivals.
The event offers Max Verstappen a very different challenge during what has so far been a difficult 2026 Formula 1 season. The Dutchman currently sits only sixth in the Formula 1 drivers’ standings and has yet to win a Grand Prix this year, but he has already explored other forms of motorsport by competing in GT racing during the first half of the season.
Max Verstappen to face 100 drivers at Silverstone
Red Bull has officially announced the special Silverstone event for September 16, with Max Verstappen as the central figure. The show, named “Max vs 100”, will be broadcast exclusively on Disney+ and the ESPN App and will feature the Red Bull driver in an unusual kart race against 100 opponents.
Max Verstappen will start from the rear of the field with the goal of overtaking all 100 challengers in what is set to be, quite literally, one of the biggest kart races ever staged. It will also take the four-time world champion back to his racing roots. Long before reaching Formula 1, Max Verstappen established himself as an exceptional karting talent and became one of the standout young drivers of his generation.
The 100 competitors selected by Red Bull will come from a wide variety of backgrounds. The field will include Red Bull athletes from other disciplines, content creators, public figures and ordinary motorsport enthusiasts from around the world.
The Dutch champion and his 100 rivals will compete on a circuit designed and built specifically for the occasion by French racing driver and race director David Terrien, a renowned kart designer and former junior karting world champion.
A special circuit built for Max Verstappen’s 101-kart race
Creating a layout capable of accommodating Max Verstappen and 100 other drivers simultaneously has presented an unusual design challenge.
“Creating a track for 100 drivers to race on at the same time has never been done before, so it’s really exciting to be part of this event,” David Terrien said. “Seeing Max Verstappen chasing everyone will be an unforgettable experience for all the drivers.”
Traffic management will be a central part of the challenge, with Max Verstappen required to combine outright speed with the racecraft developed during his years in karting.
“We will see Max showcase all of his skills: he will have to manage the traffic, trying to prepare and plan the places where he can overtake, flying through his opponents at the highest possible speed to prevent the drivers ahead from getting away,” David Terrien explained.
The event gives Max Verstappen the chance to return to the discipline in which his career began, but with a format far removed from a conventional kart race. Instead of starting near the front and fighting a small group of rivals, the Red Bull star will have to work his way through a field of 100 competitors in one of the most unusual motorsport challenges of the year.
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