The truth behind Max Verstappen’s 100-influencer racing challenge: Daily Mail Sport’s HENRY WILLIAMS reveals the one rule everybody HAD to follow, the pre-race warning Red Bull star sent him and how he fared in Silverstone bonanza

For those of us that love sport, there are few opportunities to live the life of the athletes we admire.

These rare chances may be limited to: running a marathon, scoring the winner in Sunday league, beating your mates on the 18th in front of a packed-out clubhouse.

On Wednesday evening I was one of the luckiest 100 people in the world, as I was asked to take on Max Verstappen in ‘Max vs 100’ – Red Bull’s latest ingenious way of capturing a market that goes way beyond energy drink consumers.

This was the closest I’ll ever get to being a professional sportsperson, and it’s a thrill I’ll never forget.

Taking on the four-time world champion was a daunting prospect, softened somewhat by the fact that all 101 of us were out of place: One hundred of us were out of place imitating professionals. Max Verstappen was out of place being at the back of any grid – not that he was for long.

A few hours before the race, Max, wearing casual Red Bull attire, briskly walked through the paddock to his pit. I caught up with him and asked:

‘Are you going to beat me, Max?’

‘I’m going to try my best!’ he replied.

A cheeky question answered with immense respect. A response that I would put to him after the race.

Once the buzz of our first interaction had worn off, the nerves set in for qualifying.  One flying lap, one attempt to get myself far enough away from Max that he had to at least get up to speed before overtaking me.

‘Don’t spin out, don’t spin out, don’t spin out’ I uttered to myself time after time. I wanted to give myself the best opportunity possible. Knowing that if I avoided messing up, I could be a few rows ahead of him, at least.

The track was part-karting, part-Silverstone race circuit. Our first taste of it was on a smaller version on Tuesday, where we had a full practice schedule put on for us. This consisted of a: practice session, qualifying and a sprint race.

All before we took on VCARB driver, Arvid Lindblad, in a 50-kart simulation of the following day’s showdown with Max.

Are you starting to see what I mean when I liken this to the experience of a professional driver?

Whereas on Tuesday there was comfort in the fact that we had ample opportunity to bounce back from errors on the track, Wednesday was an entirely different ballgame.

My group ‘Team Priory’ was the final to be released for qualifying. Having seen many come and go before us, the nerves had longer to fester.

It was a bit of a mess for myself, truth be told. On the out lap, I had planned to give myself as much distance to the car ahead as possible. Adrenaline quickly aborted that plan for me, and I found myself bunched up with two others.

Which leads me on to the Motley Crew of competitors Max had to contend with. It was largely a mix of creators and influencers. From Love Island winners, to F1 fanatics, it was an eclectic mix of enthusiastic hopefuls. In front of me for qualifying was Quecee, a Dutch streamer and Molly Carlson, a cliff-diving Red Bull athlete.

Quecee was significantly slower than myself and Molly, meaning we found ourselves faced with a challenge: attempt the overtake when he’s not expecting it or play it safe and stay behind him on our one and only qualifying lap.

We both, naturally, chose the former, creating a cat and mouse situation throughout… hampering all three of us.

I qualified 73rd, right on the bridge between ‘I should be okay to make the first corner before Max gets you’ territory and ‘you’re screwed’.

The two hours we had before the race started were used to say hi to the Disney+ cameras, and attend the final briefing from the race director, with the key message being an emphatic ‘don’t ruin it for everyone by taking out Max Verstappen when he’s mid-season’.

A very fair rule, and one thoroughly respected by all. As we sat and waited to be taken to our karts, there was the nervous energy that you would expect from an occasion like this.

As someone who works in social media and contributes to the fast-paced, instant gratification medium that many consider a negative on the whole, I do my utmost to live in the present when I can.

It was a moment where I looked out among everyone, as I sat in my custom made race suit and tailormade helmet, and considered myself truly lucky to be in a position that so many would love to be in.

The walk to the track was an ominous one. It was the biggest karting race of all time, and seeing 101 out there really was something to behold.

The first karts you passed were those at the front of the grid, meaning that I, regrettably, got more steps in on the way to my vehicle than I’d intended.

There was an opportunity for all of us to get our final pieces of content, before putting our headset in, pulling our balaclava over our head and squeezing into our helmets.

When Max walked past, this time in his race suit, it was seriously intimidating. I’ve seen that man chase down the greatest drivers of all time? I’m simply a driver of all time?

Alas, the grid was set and off we went. Following instruction from Lindblad the previous day, I went straight for the left of the track, aiming to avoid as many people who went right to get the best possible angle for the first corner.

I managed to navigate myself into a good position, but had to move to the centre of the track to avoid collisions with the dozens around me.

As I approached the first corner, a tight left-hand turn, I managed to get away from a fair bunch of people, but got caught in the traffic. Hardly surprising considering the sheer volume out there.

I was absolutely delighted with my start. I had made it past the first corner. I had avoided contact. I had not seen Max at all.

Until I did see him.

As I approached the second turn, I saw the flying Dutchman scoot over the grass of the first corner.

Now, for the fellow F1 anoraks out there, you’d know that what he did was illegal. You simply cannot leave the track to gain an advantage. I think I actually lifted my arms aloft in frustration as he flew past me. A full course yellow flag followed immediately, and no overtaking was allowed for the rest of the lap.

I naively wondered if he’d be told to give the position back, but he was not. Me and about 60 others were then black flagged and told to return to the paddock.

So, effectively, I raced for 20 seconds after three days of buildup.

In the press conference afterwards, I put Max’s answer to me earlier in the day back to him.

‘Did you even need to try your best?’

‘I always try my best’

In an utterly unsurprising revelation, Max’s relentlessly competitive nature doesn’t ease, even against amateurs.

I wondered to myself if he saw this as a daunting prospect himself. He had it all to lose, and little to win, really.

He was a great sport, and a brilliant competitor.

So, 200 vs Max. Who says no?