On Wednesday, Max Verstappen will start from the back of a 101 go-kart grid with the sole aim of reaching the front of the pack in 30 laps.
The challenge, which will be broadcast on ESPN and Disney+, will see him go up against a mix of content creators, athletes and fans on a specially designed kart track at Silverstone.
Ahead of the race, a number of Verstappen's Formula 1 rivals were asked about the four-time champion's chances of completing the challenge. Here's what they had to say...
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Charles Leclerc
Leclerc regularly raced against Verstappen in go-karts when they were kids, giving him plenty of first-hand experience of going wheel-to-wheel with the four-time champion. Asked what his advice would be to the 100 rivals, Leclerc urged them not to crash into Verstappen.
"I mean 100 [drivers] is a lot," he said. "Ok, that would be fun. That would be cool.
"Honestly, the only advice I'll give is maybe not to crash into Max, because he's got a season to finish. And for Max to be careful, because I don't know how professional those drivers are, but 100 drivers is quite a lot on a track, so I think it would be fun.
"But obviously when you're racing against one of the best drivers in the world, they'll probably have a tough time."
George Russell
Although he was a year ahead of Verstappen in karts, Russell has been involved in a number of intense battles with the Dutchman in Formula 1. He had little doubt Verstappen would succeed, joking that the 100 would have to think outside the box to keep him behind.
"If you go full four abreast around the whole track he might be quite difficult to protect, so maybe a couple of drivers work as a team to try and block him," Russell joked.
"I did a team race with 160 of my team members last week, and we had some top drivers, but yeah I think he should probably comfortably doing that task."
Oliver Bearman
Haas driver Bearman took part in a similar karting challenge last month when he started from the back of the grid in an attempt to overtake 50 drivers in front of him.
"I don't think Max needs any advice," he said. "But I don't know, it depends. I think it's one of those things that when I did it, I had three or four really fast drivers.
"One guy was racing in the British Championships, so when I saw him, I knew that he was going to be quick. And, obviously, there's a bit of a weight differential, so I should have prepared myself a bit more. Anyway, the more laps you do, the more chance you have of overtaking.
"I only had maybe 15 laps, so if he has double, then maybe he has a chance to do it. It's always a fun thing, but I remember it was a really cool idea on paper until I got into Turn 1 with 50 karts in front of me. And I was like, actually, this is really dangerous. But it turned out to be all good."
Carlos Sainz
Williams driver Sainz also has recent experience of starting from the back of a grid, albeit not a grid of 100...
"I did a karting race with my team and started 20th because we did reverse grid and I was P1 in five laps.
"So by my calculations, if there's another 20 times five, in 20 laps Max will be for sure P1. Fifteen, 20 laps, or who knows, depends how much overtaking there is. But he will win it easy."
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Gabriel Bortoleto
Audi driver Bortoleto is close to Verstappen away from the track and regularly competes against him in online sim racing. Knowing just how good Verstappen in every form of motorsport, he had little doubt that his friend would complete the challenge.
"It depends on the level of the other drivers there, obviously," Bortoleto said. "But I think there's a big chance of him winning. If I'm home doing nothing, will turn on to have fun and watch it, for sure."
Valtteri Bottas
Slightly misled by the question he was asked, Bottas seemed to think he might be offered one of the 100 karts ... and politely declined.
"If I can follow it, for sure I'll have a look. Sounds entertaining, but I'm busy next week and elsewhere, so I can't join, sadly."
