Verstappen targets first 2026 win at Baku after karting triumph
Max Verstappen arrives at the 2026 Azerbaijan Grand Prix fresh from a last-to-first victory in a Red Bull karting event against 100 competitors at Silverstone. The four-time champion has six podiums this season but no wins. A victory in Baku would mark his first of the year and make him the circuit's first three-time winner.
Karting momentum heads to Baku
Max Verstappen completed a last-to-first win in Red Bull's "Max vs 100" karting challenge at Silverstone last week. He overtook 100 competitors in 14 laps and 35 minutes.[2][3] The four-time champion has recorded six podium finishes in 2026 but remains winless in Formula 1 this season.[1]
Verstappen has won twice previously at the Baku street circuit. A victory this weekend would make him the first driver to claim three wins there.[1]
Season context at the street track
The Dutch driver finished second at the Spanish Grand Prix in Madrid two weeks earlier. He enters the Azerbaijan Grand Prix with positive recent form after four podiums in the last five races.[1]
Path to a potential triple
Verstappen has 71 career Grand Prix wins. Breaking his 2026 duck at Baku would also extend his record at a venue that has produced unpredictable results in prior editions.[1]
Related reading
- [1]After karting fun, Verstappen looks to keep winning feeling going in Baku (reuters). Accessed 2026-09-23.
- [2]How Max Verstappen won the 'biggest race' of his motorsport career (formula1). Accessed 2026-09-23.
- [3]Max Verstappen wins Max vs 100 in style after overtaking 100 go-karters in 35 minutes (espn). Accessed 2026-09-23.