Who Do You Want To Beat Max Verstappen At Karting? - Jalopnik

September 2026 · 2 minute read
Graphic explaining the rules of the Max Vs 100 race

Red Bull

Tomorrow, September 16, Max Verstappen is set to race 100 other drivers through 30 laps of Silverstone — all in go karts. F1's fastest boy will start at the back of the 101-kart pack, and each driver will be eliminated the second Max completes a pass on them. The competitors range from Twitch streamers to fellow Red Bull-sponsored athletes, TikTokers to Olympians, and it's entirely possible that at least one of them will cross the finish line before Max. The only question: Who should it be?

Red Bull has released a list of 89 of the competitors, who range from automotive mainstays like Larry Chen, Pol Tarres, and Sarah Lezito to a "sports presenter" from the Daily Mail and that guy who does car sounds with his mouth on TikTok. It's what we might call an eclectic grid — especially given we don't know some of the competitors yet, and Red Bull may well be bringing out ringers — but surely someone in this crowd can give Max a run for his money. Who do you think it should be?

My money's on Janja

INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA - JUNE 20: Janja Garnbret of Slovenia competes during the women's lead climbing qualification of the World Climbing Series Innsbruck 2026 on June 20, 2026 in Innsbruck, Austria. (Photo by Marco Kost/Getty Images)

Marco Kost/Getty Images

I didn't learn about the Max Vs 100 entry list through following Max — I'm famously not an F1 girlie, despite having actually met Max in person at the Civic Type R launch — but through the Instagram of an athlete I actually do follow: Janja Garnbret. She's a Slovenian rock climber,  a two-time Olympic gold medalist, 51-time World Climbing Series gold medalist, the first woman to onsight 5.14b, and the second woman to climb 5.15c — she's arguably the greatest female rock climber in the world. Also, c'mon, just look at her arms. You think little Max is going to be able to whip a kart around with more control than her with those guns?

I truly hope Janja beats Max tomorrow, both because I think it would be funny for a complete non-racer to win and because I think Janja's pure heart and spirit will carry her to victory. Who do you want to win, though? Someone on the list, or do you have a guess as to who remains unannounced? Let me know your hopes and predictions below, and I'll collect my favorites after the race.