Verstappen Scythes From 24th to Ninth as Rossi Labours at Portimão GT Finale

Verstappen Turns 24th Into Ninth at the Algarve

Max Verstappen made the most of a gap in the Formula 1 calendar to return to GT racing over the weekend, representing his own Verstappen Racing team at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão) as the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season reached its conclusion.

The four-time F1 World Champion shared the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with team mates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham, an entry that qualified 15th. Barnicoat and Lulham made solid progress over the opening two stints, breaking into the top 10 and pushing towards a potential podium.

Those hopes were dented, however, by a penalty during Lulham's stint that dropped the car to 24th by the time Verstappen took over the wheel, with a Safety Car period further hampering the Dutchman's chances of a recovery.

Max Verstappen in action for Verstappen Racing at the GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portimão

Once racing resumed, though, Verstappen displayed the raw speed and bold overtaking that have defined his Formula 1 career, climbing from outside the top 20 to ninth by the chequered flag.

Rossi's Charge Undone by Track Limits Penalty

Sharing the grid with Verstappen was MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, whose Team WRT squad had hoped to be in the mix through qualifying. GT World Challenge Europe's format splits qualifying into three segments — one for each driver — with the aggregate time for each car setting the grid.

Rossi's efforts were undone by a track limits penalty that cost the seven-time MotoGP champion and his squad a lap time in the second segment, leaving them back in 60th on a 61-strong grid. On race day, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 classified 50th, with 52 entries making the finish and nine retiring across some three hours of racing.

Record Viewership for GT World Challenge Europe

Given the extra attention brought by Verstappen's latest outing, GT World Challenge subsequently reported a record 9.7 million views of their live coverage on YouTube, as well as an on-site attendance of 28,000 people.

The weekend came amid a short gap in the Formula 1 calendar, with Verstappen having represented his own team on multiple outings over the last couple of years. F1 itself will return to Portimão in 2027 as part of a two-year agreement confirmed at the end of last year.