{"id":4090,"date":"2026-10-16T12:10:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-16T15:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=4090"},"modified":"2026-10-16T12:09:24","modified_gmt":"2026-10-16T15:09:24","slug":"verstappen-racing-storms-from-20th-to-fourth-at-portimao-as-gtwc-qualifying-looms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/endurance\/verstappen-racing-storms-from-20th-to-fourth-at-portimao-as-gtwc-qualifying-looms\/","title":{"rendered":"Verstappen Racing storms from 20th to fourth at Portim\u00e3o as GTWC qualifying looms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video class=\"video-js vjs-big-play-centered\" data-gp-vjs=\"1\" controls src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio-portal.b-cdn.net\/2026\/10\/Onboard-Max-Verstappen-Tl1-GTWC-Europa-Portimao.mp4\"><\/video><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Max Verstappen&#8217;s on-board at Portim\u00e3o (Video: GPTV Brazil)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Verstappen Racing improved from 20th in FP1 to fourth in FP2<\/strong> at Portim\u00e3o.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Chris Lulham recorded <strong>1:43.229<\/strong>, finishing 0.241s behind the fastest car.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Max Verstappen, Lulham and Ben Barnicoat now face qualifying ahead of Saturday&#8217;s three-hour GT World Challenge Europe finale.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Max Verstappen&#8217;s GT World Challenge Europe team recovered from a difficult opening practice session to finish fourth in FP2 at Portim\u00e3o on Friday, October 16<\/strong>, putting its Mercedes-AMG GT3 among the leading contenders before qualifying for the championship&#8217;s three-hour season finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The No. 3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry, shared by <strong>Verstappen, Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat<\/strong>, had finished only 20th in the first free practice session, with a best lap of 1:43.046. However, the team climbed 16 positions in the afternoon classification as Lulham recorded a 1:43.229, leaving the trio <strong>just 0.241 seconds behind the fastest car<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The session was led by the No. 17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed entry, which set a 1:42.988. The result placed Verstappen Racing second among the Pro-class competitors, strengthening its prospects before the decisive qualifying sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The improvement was particularly encouraging after Verstappen&#8217;s first official practice appearance had been overshadowed by an incident involving another competitor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verstappen Racing recovers after difficult opening session<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team&#8217;s first practice session began with an incident involving Verstappen and Ezequiel P\u00e9rez Companc at Turn 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The four-time Formula 1 world champion made contact with the Audi during the opening lap, sending the rival car into a spin. Race officials investigated the collision and subsequently issued Verstappen a reprimand and one behaviour warning point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/endurance\/verstappen-reprimanded-after-collision-in-first-gtwc-practice-at-portimao\/\"><strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO reported following the stewards&#8217; decision<\/strong><\/a>, the officials concluded that Verstappen had caused an avoidable collision, although mitigating circumstances reduced the severity of the sanction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The incident did not prevent the team from continuing its preparation, but the No. 3 Mercedes finished the morning session well down the overall order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The second practice session produced a much more competitive classification.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lulham delivered the crew&#8217;s fastest lap, putting the Mercedes inside the overall top five and close to the benchmark established by GetSpeed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the improvement in position should not be confused with a reduction in absolute lap time. The No. 3 Mercedes was <strong>0.183 seconds slower in FP2 than in FP1<\/strong>, despite climbing from 20th to fourth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The different session conditions and competitors&#8217; programmes mean that the two classifications cannot be treated as a direct measure of the car&#8217;s underlying performance improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nevertheless, the afternoon result demonstrated that the Verstappen Racing crew remained competitive against the leading Pro-class entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Verstappen admits he is still adapting to GT3 racing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen&#8217;s participation at Portim\u00e3o comes during a rare break in the Formula 1 calendar, between the Singapore and United States Grands Prix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Dutchman has increasingly expanded his involvement in endurance racing, combining his Formula 1 commitments with GT3 testing and selected competition appearances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, he acknowledged before the weekend that the GT World Challenge Europe presents a different challenge from the endurance events he has previously contested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;m here to win. That&#8217;s always the target,&#8221; Verstappen said during the build-up to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Red Bull driver also admitted that he was still adapting to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and the Algarve circuit, explaining that his previous GT3 experience had largely come from the N\u00fcrburgring Nordschleife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen described the Mercedes as well balanced but emphasised the need to gain experience, particularly because he is sharing the car with two teammates in a highly competitive field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I&#8217;m stepping a little bit out of my comfort zone by driving this kind of car, but I love it,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The challenge is intensified by the strength of the GT World Challenge Europe field, where several experienced factory drivers compete in identical or closely matched GT3 machinery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Verstappen, the weekend also requires adaptation to a different race format. Unlike Formula 1, the three-hour endurance race will involve driver changes, shared strategy and the need to manage traffic across several classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lulham and Barnicoat lead Verstappen Racing&#8217;s challenge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen is sharing the No. 3 Mercedes with <strong>Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat<\/strong>, replacing the team&#8217;s usual drivers Jules Gounon and Daniel Juncadella, who have conflicting commitments in the World Endurance Championship at Barcelona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lulham&#8217;s performance in FP2 reinforced his importance to the team&#8217;s qualifying preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The British driver has already played a significant role in Verstappen&#8217;s GT3 programme, combining endurance racing with the simulator experience that helped establish his relationship with the four-time Formula 1 champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Barnicoat brings additional experience from international sports-car racing, including competition in IMSA and previous factory programmes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The trio must combine their individual speed with consistency across the qualifying sessions, where the final grid position will depend on the performances of all three drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Verstappen Racing had already demonstrated its potential during Thursday&#8217;s paid test, when Lulham set a 1:43.076 to finish second overall, just 0.102 seconds behind the fastest car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The team completed 43 laps during that session, focusing on car balance, data collection and driver-change procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That preparation has become particularly important because Saturday&#8217;s race will be Verstappen&#8217;s first appearance in the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When is Verstappen&#8217;s GTWC qualifying at Portim\u00e3o?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Qualifying for the GT World Challenge Europe finale takes place on <strong>Friday, October 16<\/strong>, beginning at 18:55 local time in Portugal, equivalent to <strong>13:55 in Bras\u00edlia, 18:55 BST in the United Kingdom and 13:55 EDT in New York<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The session uses the championship&#8217;s endurance qualifying format, with each member of the three-driver crew completing a qualifying segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The combined performance determines the starting order for Saturday&#8217;s three-hour race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The main race is scheduled for <strong>Saturday, October 17<\/strong>, with the start at 18:00 local time in Portugal, corresponding to 13:00 in Bras\u00edlia and 18:00 BST.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fans can consult <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/endurance\/max-verstappen-gt3-today-portimao-qualifying-times-and-how-to-watch-live\/\"><strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO&#8217;s international guide to Verstappen&#8217;s Portim\u00e3o qualifying and live coverage<\/strong><\/a> for the full timetable across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, Australia and New Zealand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The event also features Valentino Rossi, bringing two world champions from different motorsport disciplines onto the same GT3 grid. <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/endurance\/verstappen-vs-valentino-rossi-two-world-champions-meet-in-gt3-at-portimao\/\"><strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO examined their Portim\u00e3o meeting<\/strong><\/a> ahead of the weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> will continue following Verstappen&#8217;s GT3 appearance, qualifying and the race through its <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/endurance\/\">endurance racing coverage<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chris Lulham put the Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG among the fastest cars in the second practice session at Portim\u00e3o, recovering from a difficult morning as Max Verstappen prepares for his first GT World Challenge Europe qualifying appearance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020318300,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Max Verstappen ","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Red Bull Content 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