Max Verstappen is set to face one of the most unusual challenges of his career when he lines up against 100 competitors in a karting event at Silverstone.
The four-time world champion will take part in the ‘Max vs 100’ event on Wednesday, September 16, at the iconic British racing circuit.
The format is unlike anything seen in motorsport before, placing Verstappen at the back of a 100-driver field with a very specific goal to achieve.
Verstappen must start last and work his way through the entire field, overtaking every single rival within 30 laps to complete the challenge.
Each competitor he passes is eliminated from the race, with the field gradually shrinking as Verstappen hunts down his rivals one by one.
The 100 challengers each have one advantage: a single shortcut available to use during the opening half of the race to hold Verstappen off.
Verstappen will also have a shortcut at his disposal, but it remains locked until halfway through the race, giving rivals the first 15 laps with a tactical edge.
All drivers will race identical karts, with sealed ballast added for anyone below the minimum weight requirement, and grid positions determined by a single qualifying lap.
BAFTA-winning comedian Mo Gilligan will lead the broadcast, which features game-inspired graphics, cinematic drone footage, and live commentary throughout the event.
Verstappen will also be able to speak directly to his challengers as he hunts them down, allowing viewers to hear those exchanges unfold in real time.
Among the 100 competitors are streamers TheGrefg, Caedrel and TheDonato, alongside content creators, athletes, and fans from across the world.
Other notable participants include ultrarunner Arda Saatçi, basketball shooting specialist Chris “Lethal Shooter” Matthews, and freestyle mountain biker Matt Jones.
Love Island UK 2019 winner Amber Gill, Scottish comedian Bash The Entertainer, and social media personality Josh Richards are also confirmed to take part.
Verstappen himself acknowledged that his karting background leaves him with no excuses heading into the event at Silverstone.
“I’ve driven from when I was four years old until about 15 in go-karts, so for me there’s no excuse to say ‘oh, I need more practice’ or ‘I need more time,'” Verstappen said.
“When I get there, it’s just learning the track itself, getting comfortable with the grip of the karts, and that’s it,” he added.
“Not much more I can do, but for sure I know that some of them will be very fast as well,” he concluded.
The race gets underway at 6pm BST on Wednesday September 16, with the broadcast beginning one hour earlier to capture all pre-race build-up.
Fans around the world can watch the full event live via Disney+ or through the ESPN app.