News Summary
- Max Verstappen takes part in GT3 practice and qualifying today, Friday, October 16, at Portimão.
- Qualifying begins at 5:55 p.m. BST, 12:55 p.m. ET and 10:25 p.m. IST, with the session taking place early Saturday in Australia and New Zealand.
- GT World provides official international streaming, while the Brazilian edition of GRANDE PRÊMIO offers Portuguese-language coverage through YouTube, TikTok and GPTV.
Max Verstappen returns to competitive action today, Friday, October 16, 2026, taking part in practice and qualifying for the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup finale at Portimão, Portugal.
The four-time Formula 1 world champion will drive the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO entered by Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing, sharing the car with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat.
Friday’s programme includes two free practice sessions and qualifying, which will determine the starting grid for Saturday’s three-hour race.
Verstappen’s appearance comes between the Singapore and United States Formula 1 Grands Prix, adding another race weekend to his busy October schedule.
What time is Max Verstappen’s GT3 qualifying today?
Qualifying begins at 5:55 p.m. in Portugal and the United Kingdom, equivalent to 12:55 p.m. in New York and 10:25 p.m. in India.
| Country / city | Qualifying start |
|---|---|
| United States — New York (EDT) | Friday, 12:55 p.m. |
| United States — Los Angeles (PDT) | Friday, 9:55 a.m. |
| United Kingdom — London (BST) | Friday, 5:55 p.m. |
| Canada — Toronto (EDT) | Friday, 12:55 p.m. |
| Canada — Vancouver (PDT) | Friday, 9:55 a.m. |
| India — New Delhi (IST) | Friday, 10:25 p.m. |
| Australia — Melbourne/Sydney (AEDT) | Saturday, 3:55 a.m. |
| Australia — Brisbane (AEST) | Saturday, 2:55 a.m. |
| New Zealand — Auckland (NZDT) | Saturday, 5:55 a.m. |
| Brazil — Brasília (BRT) | Friday, 1:55 p.m. |
The session features all three drivers in each car, with their combined performances determining the grid.
Max Verstappen GT3 schedule today — Friday, October 16
| Session | UK (BST) | New York (EDT) | India (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Practice 1 | 8:45 a.m. | 3:45 a.m. | 1:15 p.m. |
| Free Practice 2 | 12:45 p.m. | 7:45 a.m. | 5:15 p.m. |
| Qualifying | 5:55 p.m. | 12:55 p.m. | 10:25 p.m. |
All times are based on the event’s published schedule and remain subject to changes by the organisers.
Where to watch Verstappen’s GT3 qualifying live
The official GT World YouTube channel provides live international coverage of GT World Challenge Europe, including the Portimão weekend.
The English-language stream is available through the championship’s official platforms:
Streaming availability may vary depending on local broadcasting arrangements.
Brazilian GRANDE PRÊMIO broadcast on YouTube and TikTok
The Brazilian edition of GRANDE PRÊMIO will also provide live coverage of Friday’s Portimão sessions, with commentary in Brazilian Portuguese.
The broadcast is separate from the official international English-language stream.
The Brazilian broadcast schedule lists coverage beginning at 4:30 a.m. BRT for Free Practice 1, 8:40 a.m. for Free Practice 2 and 1:30 p.m. for qualifying.
Those are broadcast start times; the official qualifying session begins at 1:55 p.m. Brasília time.
International access to the Brazilian broadcast may be restricted by territorial rights.
Who is Verstappen racing with at Portimão?
Verstappen will share the #3 Mercedes with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat, two British drivers with experience in GT racing.
Lulham is a regular member of Verstappen Racing, while Barnicoat brings extensive endurance experience from international competitions, including IMSA.
The three-driver line-up was assembled because regular drivers Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon have commitments in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Read more about Verstappen’s GT3 teammates and their racing backgrounds.
How does GT World Challenge Europe qualifying work?
Unlike Formula 1, where drivers qualify individually, GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup teams use the combined performance of three drivers.
Each member of the crew completes a qualifying segment, with the results determining the car’s starting position.
The #3 Mercedes competes in the Pro class, placing Verstappen and his teammates among the drivers fighting for overall honours.
For a full explanation of the format, see GT World Challenge Europe rules, classes and qualifying explained.
When is Max Verstappen’s GT3 race?
The three-hour Portimão race takes place on Saturday, October 17, starting at 5:00 p.m. in Portugal and the United Kingdom.
| Country | Race start |
|---|---|
| United States — Eastern | Saturday, 12:00 p.m. |
| United Kingdom | Saturday, 5:00 p.m. |
| Canada — Eastern | Saturday, 12:00 p.m. |
| India | Saturday, 9:30 p.m. |
| Australia — Melbourne | Sunday, 3:00 a.m. |
| New Zealand | Sunday, 5:00 a.m. |
The complete Portimão GT3 live-stream guide, including international start times is available on GRANDE PRÊMIO.
