Max Verstappen passed 100 amateur drivers in just 14 laps at Silverstone. The four-time Formula 1 world champion needed 35 minutes and 14 laps to overtake every driver on the track, completing the challenge with 40 minutes and 21 laps to spare.
At the grand prix circuit in Northamptonshire, where the track was altered for the event, Verstappen, 28, had just 35 laps and 75 minutes to get past everyone. He got as high as 37th place by the time the first lap ended, after a wild opening turn that saw several drivers crash or lose control, causing racing to be put on hold for a while.
“It’s not a charity event.”
Before the mayhem started, Verstappen warned participants over race radio. That caution turned out to be spot-on.
The First Lap That Nearly Stopped the Race
At the start of the race, the track was chaotic. Numerous drivers lost control and crashed or spun out on the opening lap, which prompted the officials to temporarily stop the running. By the time that first lap ended, Verstappen had risen to 37th position, an impressive standing for a driver of his ability competing against a field of amateurs.
Racing resumed, and the pace picked up quickly.
From 37th to Fourth in Six Laps
Verstappen pushed hard from the start, moving into 10th position at the beginning of lap six and up to fourth by lap 10. Every driver he passed had to retire straight away, so the field kept shrinking as the race went on.
Three drivers made up the field at that point: Dutch F1 journalist Jacky Martens, Red Bull engine builder Lewis Osler and YouTuber Zac Alsop. Each of them was granted an additional ‘fast lap’, a spot where they could cut a corner to buy more time ahead of Verstappen, yet he caught them all anyway.
Verstappen overtook Martens during the race, with the Dutch driver completing his challenge by being the last person to pass him. Martens had secured pole position through qualifying.
The Final Stretch
40 minutes remained on the clock, along with 21 laps, and Verstappen was still in pursuit. He overtook Martens while the field was reduced to just three drivers. Zac Alsop, the YouTuber, and Lewis Osler, the Red Bull engine builder, were both still on the track at that point.
Three drivers were granted an additional ‘fast lap’, allowing them to take a shorter route across the track to keep Verstappen at bay for longer, yet he closed the gap on all three of them. He ultimately passed every one of them.
The Field and Its Rules
The field stood apart from ordinary racing because it brought together TV and sports personalities alongside social media stars, none of whom were professional racers. Because of that, the level of skill behind the wheel differed greatly from one competitor to another.
There was only one rule in force: any driver who got past by Verstappen had to quit at once. This regulation steadily reduced the number of competitors still running, so that by the closing stages, only three drivers remained on the track.
What This Says About Verstappen
Red Bull’s Verstappen has been dominant for years. His racing career started in karting as a junior, and he proceeded to claim four straight F1 championships from 2021 through 2024. Each of those titles was secured while he was employed by the team.
The display of skill during the race revealed the same harsh drive for advantage. In under an hour, he passed 100 drivers.
The warning he issued to participants on race radio — “it’s not a charity event” — demonstrates how seriously he regards these lighthearted exhibitions as true tests of skill. He demands respect for his talent, and he gives it in full measure.
The Spectacle of It
The exhibition race drew spectators who watched a spectacle unfold. Under an hour saw Verstappen pass 100 amateur drivers, a feat that stands as a remarkable achievement.
What could have been a routine display of pace turned into a tense finish when Martens held on for longer than anyone expected, eventually being passed. That Verstappen managed to complete the challenge with so much time still available shows the steadiness and command he has behind the wheel.
Three drivers — Martens, Osler and Alsop — were left on the track, and they were handed a ‘fast lap’ advantage in an attempt to keep Verstappen at bay. That margin did not last long enough to stop him, though, and all three were eventually passed by him.
See the a run of 37 images at the BBC.
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