Max Verstappen overtook 100 amateur drivers in 14 laps and 35 minutes at Silverstone, winning an exhibition go-kart race on an adapted version of the Northamptonshire Grand Prix circuit. The Red Bull driver, 28, had been given up to 35 laps and 75 minutes to pass every kart. Each driver he overtook had to retire from the event.

The field consisted of television, sports and social media personalities, with no professional racing drivers. Verstappen started behind all 100 competitors and said he felt some concern when he saw the grid. “When I went to the grid and I saw where I had to start, with 100 karts in front of me, I was a little bit worried,” he said.

The opening lap was chaotic, with numerous drivers crashing or spinning out. Racing was briefly suspended, but Verstappen had climbed to 37th by the end of the lap. “After my first lap with all the carnage, I did think 'OK, we have got this under control'. From there on, I could really have a lot of fun trying to hunt them all down,” he said. “Once I started getting into a rhythm and was able to overtake them one by one and saw the gap closing, that was really exciting.”

He had moved into 10th by the start of lap six and reached fourth by lap 10. The final three drivers were Dutch Formula 1 journalist Jacky Martens, Red Bull engine builder Lewis Osler and YouTuber Zac Alsop. Each was allowed an extra “fast lap” on which they could cut a corner to try to delay Verstappen.

Martens, who had qualified on pole position, was the last driver Verstappen passed. The champion completed the challenge with 21 laps and 40 minutes left. During the race, Verstappen told participants over the radio, “it's not a charity event”.

Verstappen said returning to a kart brought him back to his beginnings in racing. “It was great to just be back in a go-kart again and go back to basics, it reminded me of racing back in the day,” he said. “It's a really beautiful track and well designed. I had a great day and it was good to come out with the win.”

He began racing karts at age four and entered championships from age seven. Verstappen has won 71 Formula 1 grands prix and four consecutive world titles, from 2021 through 2024. The Silverstone event gave him a return to the discipline where his racing career began.

Based on reporting by BBC Sport.