Max Verstappen overtakes 100 amateur karters in 14-lap Silverstone masterclass

Verstappen leaves 100-kart field trailing at Silverstone

Max Verstappen needed only 14 laps and 35 minutes to overtake all 100 amateur drivers in an exhibition go-kart race on an adapted version of the Silverstone Grand Prix circuit.

The four-time Formula 1 world champion started behind the entire field and had a maximum of 35 laps or 75 minutes to complete the challenge. A chaotic first lap, which saw several competitors crash or spin, briefly brought the event to a halt, but Verstappen had already climbed to 37th position by its end.

“When I went to the grid and I saw where I had to start, with 100 karts in front of me, I was a little bit worried,” Verstappen said. “After my first lap with all the carnage, I did think ‘OK, we have got this under control’.”

A relentless climb through the field

Verstappen reached 10th by the start of lap six and fourth by lap 10. Each driver he passed was required to retire, leaving Dutch F1 journalist Jacky Martens, Red Bull engine builder Lewis Osler and YouTuber Zac Alsop as the final three challengers.

The trio were each given an extra fast lap, allowing them to cut a corner in an effort to delay Verstappen. The advantage was not enough: Martens, who had started from pole position after qualifying, was the last driver to be caught.

Verstappen finished with 21 laps and 40 minutes remaining on the clock. The event featured television, sporting and social-media personalities rather than professional racing drivers.

Back to his karting roots

The challenge marked a return to the discipline in which Verstappen began racing at the age of four. He said the event reminded him of his early career and praised the Silverstone circuit.

“It was great to just be back in a go-kart again and go back to basics, it reminded me of racing back in the day,” he said. “I had a great day and it was good to come out with the win.”