Verstappen to take on 100 rivals in Silverstone karting challenge

Max Verstappen will return to his karting roots at Silverstone on September 16 for 'Max vs 100', a one-off race where he starts at the back and must overtake 100 rivals. The four-time champion will face Red Bull athletes, celebrities, content creators, and the public.

Why it matters:

The event showcases Verstappen's raw overtaking ability in a chaotic setting and highlights how karting shaped his F1 instincts. It also offers a fan-friendly spectacle blending racing with entertainment.

The details:

• Participants include ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball player Chris Matthews, freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones, and streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel, and TheDonato.
• Verstappen will have direct radio contact with rivals, adding strategy and banter.
• The track was designed by David Terrien and tested with iRacing World Champion Sebastian Job, who called overtaking 50 already tough, making 100 extremely difficult.
• Global broadcast on Disney+, ESPN in the US, with game-inspired graphics and drone footage.

What's next:

Verstappen, who first climbed into a kart at age four, says the basics of starts, defending, and overtaking come naturally when he returns. The September 16 challenge will test if his childhood instincts are still sharp enough to cut through 100 rivals.