Max Verstappen Beats 100 Go-Kart Drivers in Red Bull F1 Star's 'Max vs. 100' Challenge

It turns out being one of the most successful F1 drivers of all-time also makes you good at go-kart driving, as Max Verstappen proved on Wednesday.

Starting from the back of the pack against 100 go-kart drivers in what was dubbed the "Max vs. 100" challenge, Verstappen jumped up 64 spots into 37th place just on the first lap of the race.

Verstappen did wait until the eighth lap until he got into the top three, giving him 22 laps to move into first place. He finally ended it roughly 35 minutes after it started.

He also made it clear throughout he had no interest in treating this like an exhibition.

Red Bull, Verstappen's team since 2016, organized the event that required him to start 101st in the 101-driver field. He then had 30 laps to overtake the field with competitors being eliminated and sent to the pit area when he passed them.

"A hundred is a lot, you know, but I think how they've set up the track from what they've shown me, I think it will be good," Verstappen told ESPN's Laurence Edmondson prior to the race. "But it's still going to be hectic, for sure."

The 100 drivers challenging Verstappen were comprised from a group of Red Bull athletes, content creators, journalists and fans from around the world.

y doubt about Verstappen being able to win was immediately erased on the first lap. He finally got to the front of the pack on the 14th lap.

The only reason it took as long to finish the race is because you don't really get a sense of how far back in the field the 101st kart is until you see it and the chaotic mess that was the start of the event.

Verstappen told Edmondson it would be "quite embarrassing" if he was unable to win.

"I'm hoping that with my background, I should be faster than most. I hope! I mean, it would be quite embarrassing if they're faster than me!"

No one was even close to being faster than Verstappen, who scored his first win of the season. The 28-year-old has made the podium six times in 14 F1 races, including four in his last five events.

Perhaps Wednesday's go-kart showing will be the thing that helps propel Verstappen forward and into the winner's circle at his day job.