Max Verstappen Set to Battle 100 Racers in Record-Breaking ‘Max vs 100’ Silverstone Go-Kart Event
Four-time Formula One World Champion Max Verstappen is taking on one of the most unpredictable challenges of his racing career.
Fresh off extending his contract with Oracle Red Bull Racing through the end of 2030, the 28-year-old Dutchman is returning to his racing roots on September 16, 2026. Starting from the very back of a 101-kart grid at the iconic Silverstone Circuit in England, Verstappen will attempt to chase down and overtake 100 drivers in what is set to become the world’s biggest go-kart race.
Dubbed “Max vs 100,” the event will be broadcast live around the world on Disney+ and streamed live on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers in the U.S., followed by a delayed broadcast on ESPN2 later that day.
Star-Studded Grid: Athletes, Streamers, and Fans
Unlike a standard Formula One Grand Prix, Verstappen won’t be competing against grid rivals like Lando Norris or Lewis Hamilton. Instead, he will navigate through a chaotic, 100-driver field made up of fellow elite athletes, global content creators, media personalities, and everyday fans.
Lineup highlights on the grid include:
Red Bull Athletes: Ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball shooting specialist Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, and British freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones.
Global Content Creators: Major gaming streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel, and TheDonato.
Everyday Fans: Invited participants from across the globe stacking the odds against the four-time World Champion.
Returning to Where It All Began
Long before mastering F1’s legendary tracks, Verstappen built his racecraft on the karting circuit. He got behind the wheel of a go-kart at just four years old, began competing in championships at age seven, and dominated junior ranks across Belgium and the Netherlands. His standout 2013 season—where he claimed multiple European and World titles—propelled him directly into Formula One.
“In go-karts, you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking,” Verstappen shared. “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.”
When asked what he was most looking forward to on race day, Verstappen gave a classic response: “Just seeing the carnage unfold in front of me.”
Custom Track Built for 101-Kart Chaos
To safely accommodate 101 karts on track at once, a custom circuit layout was designed at Silverstone by Race Director David Terrien—a former youth karting world champion and renowned track architect.
“Creating a track for 100 drivers at the same time has never been done, never been seen. So, it’s very exciting,” said Terrien. “When you have Max 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.”
Can Verstappen Overtake 100 Karts?
Simulations suggest the challenge will be formidable. During test runs at Silverstone alongside test driver Sebastian Job (two-time iRacing World Champion and Simracer for Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing), organizers evaluated the mechanics of the elimination-style format.
“I think to overtake 100 cars is going to be extremely difficult,” noted Job. “Today we did it with 50, and even that was a challenge to do in the allotted time. He’s got his work cut out for him big time.”
Broadcast Details & How to Watch ‘Max vs 100’
The live broadcast will feature host Mo Gilligan, cinematic drone coverage, game-inspired live graphics, real-time telemetry data, and live two-way radio communication between Verstappen and the drivers he is attempting to pass.
Date: September 16, 2026
Location: Silverstone Circuit, England (Closed-door event)
Global Stream: Live on Disney+
