Max Verstappen charged from 24th to ninth place during a 45-minute stint at the GT World Challenge Europe season finale in Portimão, Portugal, recovering from a drive-through penalty that initially derailed his team’s podium ambitions. Driving the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO for his own Verstappen Racing operation alongside co-drivers Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham, the four-time Formula 1 world champion completed his charge during the three-hour endurance race on October 17, 2026, as reported by f1sport.auto.cz.
Early progress and the penalty that dropped Verstappen Racing to 24th
The No. 3 Mercedes started 15th on the grid, with Barnicoat taking the opening stint and advancing to eighth place, according to race accounts. Lulham then took over the cockpit, maintaining a strong pace that carried the car into sixth position and within striking distance of the leaders. However, race control intervened after a Full Course Yellow and subsequent safety car period. Lulham attempted an overtaking maneuver on the No. 48 Mercedes driven by Lucas Stolz, resulting in contact that spun Stolz’s car around. Sports commissioners judged Lulham at fault for the collision and handed the Verstappen Racing team a drive-through penalty. Lulham served the penalty in the pit lane before handing the steering wheel over to Verstappen for the final 45 minutes of the race, leaving the car stranded back in 24th position.
Max Verstappen makes his GT World Challenge Europe debut at Portimão! 🏁He joins Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat in the #3 Mercedes-AMG.Read more:👉 https://t.co/vx5KUYr0hT#GTWorldChallenge #Verstappen pic.twitter.com/MX29fQ3ZzT
Verstappen charges through the field during a frantic closing stint
When Verstappen stepped into the Mercedes for the final stretch, he immediately began posting competitive lap times to claw back positions. Another safety car intervention bunched the field together, erasing the gaps between cars and aiding the recovery. With 15 minutes remaining on the clock, Verstappen had climbed to 15th place and was hunting down the leading group. In the closing laps, the Dutch driver executed multiple passing moves, including a triple-overtake in a single corner that cleared three cars at once. He eventually crossed the finish line in ninth place, securing a top-ten finish just ahead of Arthur Leclerc’s Ferrari.
Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed claims overall victory in Portugal
While Verstappen Racing salvaged a ninth-place finish from deep in the pack, the overall victory at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve went to the No. 17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO crew of Ralf Aron, Maximilian Götz, and Fabian Schiller. Second place overall went to the No. 80 Lionspeed GP Porsche lineup featuring Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining, and Bastian Buus. The final step of the podium was claimed by the No. 2 Porsche crew of Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci, and Alessio Picariello.
How the grid shaped up for the Algarve endurance showdown
Verstappen’s entry competed in the Pro category against a 61-car field featuring more than 70 professional drivers. Regular team drivers Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon were unavailable for the Portimão finale due to conflicting World Endurance Championship (WEC) commitments, opening the door for Barnicoat and Lulham to join the four-time F1 champion. The high-profile entry also raced alongside other motorsport figures, including Valentino Rossi in a Team WRT BMW, Maro Engel, Mirko Bortolotti, and Nikita Mazepin.
Weekend schedule and subsequent racing commitments
Track activity at Portimão began with free practice sessions and qualifying on Friday, October 16, 2026, leading into the three-hour Endurance Cup race on Saturday evening, October 17. The event served as Verstappen’s latest GT3 outing following his appearance earlier in the year at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where a late axle failure denied his crew a potential victory.
Worth a look
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