Motor racing-Verstappen overtakes 100 go-karters in 35 minutes at Silverstone


FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Madring, Madrid, Spain - September 12, 2026 Red Bull's Max Verstappen after finishing in third place during qualifying REUTERS/Albert Gea/File Photo

Sept 16 (Reuters) - Red Bull's ⁠four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen took 13 ⁠laps and 35 minutes to overtake 100 competitors in ‌a live televised go-karting 'Max vs 100' fun event at Silverstone on Wednesday.

Organisers had allowed a maximum 30 laps and 75 minutes for the ​Dutch driver to work his way through ⁠the field from the ⁠back on a modified kart track at the British Grand ⁠Prix ‌circuit but he needed far less.

The 28-year-old passed more than 60 rivals, who were then eliminated, ⁠on the chaotic opening lap. Dutch F1 journalist ​Jacky Martens, who ‌regularly reports on Verstappen's races, started on pole ⁠and was the ​last driver overtaken in a field that included social media content creators, celebrities and Red Bull athletes.

"I think this is ⁠the best one yet," joked Verstappen, winner ​of 71 grands prix.

"My first lap was quite incredible," he added. "There was a lot happening and actually a few cars ⁠got stuck and I always managed to be on the other side, so didn't get stuck."

The event was streamed live globally on ESPN on Disney+.

Verstappen has yet to win ​a grand prix this season and ⁠is sixth in a championship dominated by Mercedes. He finished second ​in the Spanish Grand Prix ‌last Sunday.

"It's my first win of ​the year, so I take this one," he said.

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in LondonEditing by Toby Davis)

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