Verstappen passes 100 amateur karters in 14 laps at Silverstone exhibition

Max Verstappen passed 100 amateur karters in 14 laps and 35 minutes in an exhibition go-kart race at Silverstone on 16 September 2026. He had a maximum allowance of 35 laps and 75 minutes to overtake everyone on the adapted circuit at the grand prix venue in Northamptonshire.

The 28-year-old Red Bull driver has won 71 grands prix in Formula 1 and is a four-time world champion, having begun his racing career as a junior in karting. The Silverstone event was staged on a shortened layout of the grand prix circuit and required Verstappen to make up places rapidly against a large, non-professional field.

Verstappen was as far back as 37th by the end of a chaotic first lap that saw many competitors crash or spin, prompting a brief suspension of the race. That early disruption reshaped the running order and reduced the size of the active field.

He advanced to 10th by the start of lap six and reached fourth by lap 10, with each driver he passed required to retire from the event. Over the radio during the contest Verstappen warned participants, "it's not a charity event".

The entry list consisted of TV, sport and social media personalities with no professional racing drivers among them; by the late stages only Dutch F1 journalist Jacky Martens, Red Bull engine builder Lewis Osler and YouTuber Zac Alsop remained in front of Verstappen. Those three were granted an extra 'fast lap' in which they could cut a corner to try to delay him, but he closed on them and passed them.

Martens, who had secured pole position in qualifying, was the final competitor Verstappen overtook. Verstappen completed the challenge with 40 minutes and 21 laps to spare.