Max Verstappen is returning to his racing roots and is taking part in a unique event called Max vs 100 where the Formula 1 star will attempt to overtake 100 drivers, starting from the back of the grid.
The 28-year-old currently races in F1, the highest tier in motorsport. He is one of the fiercest competitors out there and is known for his aggressive driving style and fearless overtaking.
But if you have never heard of him, or want to learn more, here is everything you need to know.
- Max vs 100: F1 superstar Verstappen to race drivers in karting event - live on Disney+
Who is Max Verstappen?
Verstappen was born in Belgium to his Dutch father Jos and his Belgian mother Sophie. His father raced in F1 between 1994-2003 and had two podium finishes, while his mother competed in karts. He currently resides in Monaco.
Who does he race for?
Verstappen started racing go-karts when he was just four years old and started to compete in championships at seven.
He then made his way through the ranks winning several world and European titles in 2013. He raced just one season in Formula 3 before skipping Formula 2 and heading straight to Formula 1.
In 2015, he signed for Red Bull junior team Toro Rosso at the age of 17 before he was promoted to Red Bull a year later.
He then went on to become the youngest ever grand prix winner after taking victory at the Spanish Grand Prix and has been at Red Bull ever since, becoming the most successful driver at the team.
He signed a long-term contract back in March 2022 to stay at the Milton Keynes-based team until the end of 2028, and before the Dutch Grand Prix this year he penned a new deal keeping him at the team until 2030.
What has he achieved?
It was clear from the early days that Verstappen was going to be an exceptional racing driver and he's become a phenomenon since with a killer instinct.
He's had 244 race starts in F1 and has been on the top step of the podium 71 times. He's been on the podium 131 times and is just two pole positions away from reaching 50 career poles.
The Dutchman has four world championships which he won back-to-back in a dominant Red Bull era between 2021-2024.
He also has an impressive list of achievements to his name, one being in 2023 where he recorded the most wins [19] and the most podium finishes [21] in a single season. He also recorded 10 consecutive race victories.
When is Max vs 100?
The event is taking place on Sept. 16 and will be streamed live on Disney+.
Why is he racing in Max vs 100?
Verstappen has never been shy of getting his teeth stuck into other forms of motorsport away from Formula 1. He most recently made his debut at the iconic Nürburgring 24 Hours in May, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3.
This will be a slightly different challenge for the Dutchman, but no doubt one he will enjoy with his competitive nature.
"In go-karts you learn all the basics: starts, defending, overtaking," Verstappen said. "Of course, I spent a long period of my life go-karting, so it's always nice to return."
The event is taking place at Silverstone in the U.K. and a circuit has been purpose-built for the occasion. It's set to be the biggest go-kart event in the world.
- Max Verstappen deal: Good news for Red Bull and F1, bad news for the driver market
- Max Verstappen ends F1 speculation by signing new Red Bull contract to 2030
How is his 2026 F1 season going?
The 2026 season is one with big regulation and rules changes and Red Bull are currently at the back of the front running teams, but are ahead of the midfield pack.
Verstappen is still searching for his first race win of the season, but has been on the podium four times.
He's currently sixth in the title championship and is 130 points adrift from title leader Kimi Antonelli.
