Mad Max in Karting: Verstappen Earns First Win in 2026
A few days after an impressive P2 finish at the Spanish Grand Prix, Red Bull's Max Verstappen participated in a one-off "Max vs 100" karting event at Silverstone on September 16. It was a spectacular race that saw Verstappen overtake the entire grid and earn his first racing win in 2026, albeit in a karting event, not in Formula One.
But hey, this should count, right? After all, Verstappen even said at one point yesterday that it wasn't really a charity event. He was joking, of course. But how exceptional was the four-time F1 World Champion's pace in the Max vs 100 karting race?
Max didn't need all 30 laps to win
Starting 101st, dead last at the back of the grid, Verstappen was given 75 minutes maximum and a 30-lap limit to overtake the 100 amateur karters in front of him. He had to overtake literally everyone to win the event. If he failed to overtake at least one after the maximum time and laps had lapsed, Verstappen would lose.
But, of course, the Dutchman didn't need all of those 75 minutes and 30 laps to win. Verstappen successfully finished the job in Lap 14, taking him only 35 minutes total to win the event.
The Mad Max start
The opening lap was a melee, with Verstappen passing a total of 64 karts on that lap alone. He climbed to around P37 heading into the second lap, and he proceeded to methodically pick off everyone while chatting on the radio.
By Laps 12 and 13, the Red Bull driver was already closing on the provisional Top 3 group that included former motocross racer Jacky Martens, Red Bull Powertrains technician Lewis Osler, and YouTuber Zac Alsop. On Lap 14, Verstappen needed just one corner to overtake the Top 2, with a lot of time to spare.
In the end, Osler (P3) and Martens (P2) joined the podium, with Verstappen climbing to the top step.
A fun day for Verstappen
It looked like Verstappen had more fun driving his kart than the new-generation F1 cars. That might not be the truth, of course. But it was refreshing to see this side of Verstappen, who jokingly trashtalked his way through the pack and was all smiles before and after the event.
The multiple-time F1 champion now turns his focus to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix at Baku next week, where he has won twice, in 2022 and 2025.
