Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is gearing up for one of the strangest races of his career — and it has nothing to do with F1. “Max vs 100” pits the four-time champ against a 101-kart grid stacked with content creators, Red Bull athletes, streamers, and fans from around the globe. Verstappen starts dead last with 30 laps to fight his way to the front, eliminating drivers one by one as the rear of his kart draws level with the front of theirs.
Practice runs took place today at Silverstone, where the 100 challengers got their first taste of the karts and circuit layout designed by race director David Terrien. Tomorrow they’ll move to the full track — a longer, more technical layout none of them has driven yet. Helping prepare the field was 19-year-old F1 driver Arvid Lindblad, who also jumped into a 50-kart practice session as “the Chaser,” starting last and carving his way through nearly the entire pack.
The competitors aren’t taking it lightly, either. As track designer David Terrien put it: “I saw guys who were neck and neck with Arvid, and they wouldn’t let him go at all… It’s not making Max’s life easier for tomorrow, because the guys are actually quite good.”
Basketball shooting coach and Red Bull athlete Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews isn’t betting against the champ, though: “I don’t think there’s a way to stop Max… He’s the best driver ever.”
Each kart is identical, with sealed ballast to remove any weight advantage, and both sides get one wildcard fast lap to use strategically. “Max vs 100” airs live globally on Disney+ starting at 5:00 PM BST on September 16, with the race kicking off at 6:00 PM BST, and will also stream on the ESPN App before airing on ESPN2 later that day.