Can an amateur really beat Verstappen in a go-kart race?
Can an amateur really beat Verstappen in a go-kart race?. Skip to main content Skip to navigation Max vs 100: Can an amateur really beat Verstappen in a go-kart race?
What happened
4hESPNF1 calendar: Monaco gets '27 sprint, Türkiye back4hLaurence EdmondsonVerstappen on Max vs 100: 'Embarrassing' to lose7hLaurence EdmondsonMax vs 100: Can an amateur really beat Verstappen in a go-kart race? Verstappen has taken on the challenge of racing 100 amateur karting drivers and beating them over 30 laps at a purpose-built kart track at Silverstone. ESPN's Nate Saunders is one of 100 amateur go-karters taking on four-time world champion Max Verstappen on Wednesday, live on Disney+. Here, he previews the event.
7hNate SaundersMax vs 100 explained: Rules, drivers, shortcuts and how Verstappen can win6hESPNVerstappen on Max vs 100: 'Embarrassing' to lose6hLaurence EdmondsonMax vs 100: How Verstappen's karting years made an F1 champion – and prepared him for an all-new test6hLaurence EdmondsonMax vs 100: Meet the drivers racing against Red Bull's Verstappen6hGrace Allen and Alicia TurnerMax vs 100: F1 drivers predict how Verstappen will fare racing 100 drivers6hLaurence EdmondsonWhat makes Max Verstappen so good? Terrien, a former European and World karting champion, raced against both of Verstappen's parents, Jos Verstappen and Sophie Kumpen, when they were kids together.
"It was a really nice period in my life," Verstappen told ESPN recently about his karting days. Career, background and F1 records3dESPNDespite back-to-back wins, Norris says his F1 title form is a mirage24dLaurence EdmondsonMax Verstappen signs new Red Bull deal to 203027dNate Saunders2026 F1 midterm grades: Antonelli's A+ edges Hamilton's A-48dLaurence Edmondson and Nate SaundersMax vs 100: How Verstappen's karting years made an F1 champion – and prepared him for an all-new test4hLaurence EdmondsonMax vs 100 explained: Rules, drivers, shortcuts and how Verstappen can win4hESPNMax vs 100: Meet the drivers racing against Red Bull's Verstappen4hGrace Allen and Alicia TurnerMax vs 100: F1 drivers predict how Verstappen will fare racing 100 drivers4hLaurence EdmondsonMax vs 100: When is Verstappen race, how to watch on Disney+, how it works, who's taking part?
The wider picture
Career, background and F1 records6hESPNMadring's F1 debut left everyone dissatisfied, even Spanish GP's top 33dLaurence EdmondsonSpanish GP takeaways: Kimi Antonelli marches on as Lando Norris suffers, Madring falls flat2dAlicia TurnerNorris hits out at rules after losing 'deserved' win3dNate SaundersF1 calendar: Monaco gets '27 sprint, Türkiye back4hLaurence EdmondsonRussell follows Hamilton in conceding title to Kimi2dLaurence EdmondsonHonda replacing engine chief after poor start to '262dLaurence EdmondsonHamilton concedes F1 title after early Spain DNF3dNate SaundersUgochukwu becomes first American F3 champion3dESPN News ServicesSpanish Grand Prix: F1 drivers pushing for 'obvious' changes to Madring after debut3dNate SaundersFerrari's vintage disaster-class paves way for Antonelli to win Italian GP10dNate SaundersGasly jokes: Monza whirlwind 'story of my life'9dNate SaundersWolff: Title leader Antonelli like an 'AI agent'9dNate SaundersMonza personifies the passion that enticed Leclerc to commit his future to Ferrari14dLaurence EdmondsonVerstappen to race 100 drivers live on Disney+22dESPNDespite back-to-back wins, Norris says his F1 title form is a mirage24dLaurence EdmondsonMax Verstappen signs new Red Bull deal to 203027dNate Saunders2026 F1 midterm grades: Antonelli's A+ edges Hamilton's A-48dLaurence Edmondson and Nate SaundersMax vs 100: When is Verstappen race, how to watch on Disney+, how it works, who's taking part?
4hESPNplayVerstappen: There will be no excuses after Max vs 100 (0:47)Nate SaundersSep 16, 2026, 02:12 AM ETCloseFollow on XMultiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsTen seconds into the dress rehearsal for racing against Max Verstappen, the GoPro attached to the front of my kart had already been knocked clean off. Up ahead, around and behind me, 49 other amateur racers were trying to squeeze through the first corner five abreast. Objective one: Survive long enough for Verstappen to actually catch you at a meaningful moment, rather than just in a flash. – How Verstappen's karting years made an F1 champion – and prepared him for an all-new test – Max vs 100 explained: Rules, drivers, shortcuts and how Verstappen can win – Max vs 100: F1 drivers predict how Verstappen will fare racing 100 driversOn Wednesday, I will be one of 100 drivers attempting exactly that at Silverstone: Verstappen starts at the back and has 30 laps to pass 100 of us.
Verstappen's race will take place on a mis-match of two different circuits: 1. This track has been built like no other, as kart races never accommodate 100 karts like this. In fact, by the end of the race, he had ticked off 49 of the 50 karters he needed to catch. Verstappen's participation in the event is, in effect, a love letter to go-karting.
What has been reported
Win or lose, the mere fact Verstappen even wants to put his reputation on the line against 100 amateurs continues a recent trend at this end of his career. Wednesday's race might not scratch the itch in the same way, and it certainly won't last for quite as long, but Verstappen is going to have his work cut out for him if he wants to avoid Lindblad's fate of watching another driver just stay ahead — especially in front of a worldwide Disney+ audience.
16, Max Verstappen will attempt to overtake 100 other drivers in a unique go-karting challenge at Silverstone, live on ESPN on Disney+. Between the ages of four and 15, Max Verstappen's life revolved around go-kart tracks. His father, Jos, a former Formula 1 driver, would load Max's kart into the back of their van ahead of every race weekend and drive his son across the length and breadth of Europe to the next event. "My dad really understood what was needed from the go-kart, but also from the engine.
"The local kart circuit in Genk, Belgium became the Verstappens' second home. Even in the wet winter months when other karters would pack up early and go home, the Verstappens would continue to clock up the mileage.
What happens next
"'You only get one shot at this'The school Max was attending in Belgium didn't recognise go-karting as a sport, which made it difficult to get exemptions from class for races on the other side of Europe. When he did, the young Verstappen tried to focus on his homework during those 10- or 12-hour road trips in the van, but ultimately his schoolwork never came as easily as the karting trophies. "Even when we would go on summer holidays, of course we would also spend time on the beach, but we had go-karting days where we would create mini races.
Behind me was Formula 1 rookie and Red Bull junior Arvid Lindblad, playing the role of Verstappen for the afternoon's dress rehearsal and carving through the congestion at an alarming rate. Somewhere in the middle of all that was me, discovering that the first objective in taking on one of the greatest racing drivers of his generation is considerably less ambitious than beating him. BST before the race begins at 6 p. m — meaning there is an even more modest secondary ambition: remain in the contest long enough to make it onto television.
The event is very on-brand for Verstappen, who recently has made a point of taking on just about every racing challenge he can think of outside of Formula 1.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across espn.com, theguardian.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.