Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen was the star of the spectacular karting challenge Max vs 100, organized by Red Bull. The Dutch driver won the race against 100 opponents despite starting from the worst, 101st, grid position. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the Formula 1 team's press service. The competition took place on a special karting configuration of the Silverstone circuit in the United Kingdom.
Challenge Format and Race Conditions
Verstappen's opponents were 100 participants — amateurs, bloggers, and athletes — competing on identical equipment. Under the challenge's rules, Max started last, and each opponent he overtook was immediately eliminated from the competition. To make the task harder, opponents were allowed to use special boosts and track shortcuts. At one stage, one of the drivers used this right and managed to regain a position ahead of Verstappen. The Dutchman himself hit the barrier during a series of overtakes and lost a part of his kart, but continued moving without stopping.
Race Progression: From Last Position to the Top Five
Despite the opponents' numerical advantage and additional restrictions, Verstappen quickly began to claw back positions: already in the first corner he surged to 36th place, and eight laps later he was in the top five. The pace of overtakes did not slow down until the finish, turning the race into a true show for spectators and TV cameras.
Result: A Hundred Opponents Eliminated Twice as Fast as the Limit
Verstappen needed just 15 laps out of the 30 planned to eliminate all 100 opponents — meaning the four-time champion completed the task twice as fast as the allotted distance limit. According to Sport-Express, the race lasted about 35 minutes, and the driver himself called this result "the best win of my career." Thus, the star driver confirmed his status not only in Formula 1 but also in karting.
Contradictory Data
There is a discrepancy in the sources regarding the exact number of laps it took Verstappen to overtake all opponents. The main text and a number of publications cite 15 laps out of 30, while queen-of-motorsport.com reports in its headline that the driver overtook 100 karts "in just 14 laps." The one-lap difference does not change the essence of the result — the win and the twice-as-fast completion of the distance are confirmed by both versions — however, the exact figure depends on which moment of the finish is counted. Both viewpoints are presented for completeness.
