Max Verstappen successfully completed the extraordinary Max vs. 100 challenge at Silverstone, overtaking all 100 of his fellow competitors in just 14 laps and around 35 minutes.
The special, which aired live on Disney+ and ESPN on Wednesday, saw the four-time Formula 1 World Champion take on 100 drivers in a unique karting event designed to test whether anyone could prevent him from fighting his way through the entire field.
Verstappen started from the very back of the 101-kart grid, with the objective of overtaking every competitor within 30 laps or 75 minutes. Once a driver was passed, they were eliminated from the challenge. In the end, Verstappen didn't even need half the allowed time.
The Red Bull driver had an incredible start, cutting through the chaos at the opening corners and eliminating 64 competitors during the first lap alone. A number of karts became involved in incidents, resulting in a Full Course Yellow, but Verstappen managed to avoid the worst of the carnage and emerged from the opening lap in 37th place.
He continued his charge once racing resumed, reaching 25th by Lap 4 and breaking into the top 10 two laps later. By the end of Lap 7, Verstappen had climbed all the way to fifth.
There was a brief scare when Verstappen ran wide during Lap 7 and knocked a kilogram of ballast from his kart, but that did little to slow his progress.
The final group consisted of F1 journalist Jacky Martens, YouTuber Zac Alsop and Red Bull Ford Powertrains technician Lewis Osler. Martens had started from pole position, but even that advantage was not enough to keep Verstappen behind. Verstappen eventually caught and overtook the final three competitors, completing the challenge in approximately 35 minutes and securing victory after just 14 laps.
After crossing the finish line, Verstappen celebrated with his trademark "Simply Lovely" radio message before joking that it was his "first" win of the year.
The race was a spectacular demonstration of the driving skills Verstappen developed during his extensive karting career. And, for a driver currently fighting through a difficult 2026 F1 campaign, Max vs. 100 offered Verstappen the opportunity to return to his roots, reminding everyone why he's still the best driver on the planet.