Max Verstappen to take on 100 drivers in world’s biggest go-kart race
Four-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen will return to his racing roots in the ‘Max vs 100’ event on September 16.
Taking place at Silverstone on a purpose-built track for the occasion, the ‘Max vs 100’ will see the Dutch driver start from the back of the grid and attempt to overtake every single one of the 100 challengers in the world’s biggest go-kart race. The event will be broadcast live on Disney+ and the ESPN App.
A return to where it all began
Verstappen began his racing journey in the world of karting at the age of four and started taking part in competitive championships three years later around Belgium and the Netherlands. He then pushed forward, winning a string of World and European titles before a stellar 2013, which saw him win six different championships. It was this dominance which caught the eye of those in Formula One, and only two years later, Verstappen would make his debut F1 debut with Toro Rosso.
The 100 competitors that Verstappen is set to face won’t be drivers by trade and have instead been assembled from the world of sport and entertainment. Names include ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball shooting phenomenon Chris "Lethal Shooter" Matthews and freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones, as well as streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel and TheDonato.
“I spent a long period of my life go-karting, so it's always nice to return.”
Max Verstappen said: “In go-karts you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking,”
“Of course, I spent a long period of my life go-karting, so it's always nice to return. It’s about understanding the grip of the go-kart. I've done so many years in go-karting that you quite naturally get back into things."
“Creating a track for 100 drivers at the same time has never been done, never been seen.”
The task of adapting Silverstone for the event will fall to Race Director and French racing driver David Terrien, who is also a renowned kart designer and youth karting world champion. Terrain and test driver Sebastian Job recently gave the layout a shakedown ahead of the race day in September.
David Terrien said: “Creating a track for 100 drivers at the same time has never been done, never been seen.So it's very exciting.”
Terrien added: “When you have Max Verstappen chasing everyone, I think that's going to be the experience of a lifetime for all the drivers. You're going to have Max showcasing all these skills of looking through the traffic, trying to prepare and plan where he can overtake people, and going through the traffic at the fastest speed he can because he doesn't want to let the drivers at the front pull away.”
‘Max vs 100’ will be available to watch live around the world on Disney+ and to U.S viewers on the ESPN App on 16 September 2026.
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Red Bull Content Pool