Verstappen plans to 'rock up and do my thing' in 100-kart Silverstone challenge

Speaking ahead of the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid, Max Verstappen admitted he has done zero preparation for next week's 30-lap challenge against 100 go-karters at Silverstone. He said he will simply 'rock up and do my thing.'

The four-time F1 champion will start from the back of a 100-kart grid and try to overtake everyone within 30 laps. The field includes athletes, streamers, content creators, personalities and fans.

Why it matters:

The challenge is a lighthearted spectacle, but it puts Verstappen's racecraft in an unusual spotlight. It also offers a rare chance to see a current champion take on an unpredictable field in a low-stakes setting.

The details:

• Verstappen has not even checked who his opponents are: 'I'll just rock up and have a good time... Starting from the back, it's going to be challenging, but I hope I can catch them all.'
• He also does not know the format: 'I don't even know the format at the moment. So I will just rock up and do my thing.'
• Ferrari's Charles Leclerc advised caution: 'Maybe not to crash into Max, because he's got a season to finish, and for Max to be careful, because I don't know how professional those drivers are.'
• Williams' Carlos Sainz predicted an easy win: after passing 19 karts in five laps in his own race, 'in 20 laps Max will be P1 for sure... He will win it easy.'

What's next:

The event takes place at Silverstone next week before Verstappen returns to his 2026 F1 campaign. Catching all 100 may be tough, but it should be an entertaining spectacle.