Source: Official Team Post via X
Max Verstappen Faces Challenges in GT World Challenge Qualifying at Portimao
Max Verstappen qualified 15th in the GT World Challenge Europe at Portimao, dealing with car issues and a competitive field. The Mercedes-AMG GT3, shared with teammates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham, struggled to match the leaders' pace.
Max Verstappen found himself with a bit of a hill to climb at Portimao, finishing 15th in his qualifying round for the GT World Challenge Europe finale. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 he shares with Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham will start from 15th, based on the average qualifying times of all three drivers.
In a field of 61 cars, the session was split, with the first minutes reserved for Bronze- and Silver-rated drivers. This left Verstappen's team to wait until later in the 20-minute session to hit the track. The session was a bit like musical chairs, with everyone trying to find a clear spot on the circuit while also battling the setting sun and its long shadows across the pit straight.
Barnicoat kicked things off for the team, clocking in at 1:43.124, which placed him 21st—about seven-tenths off the pace set by Morris Schuring's Porsche 911 GT3 R. As the session continued, Tom Kalendar set a 1:42.353, while the provisional pole was held by the #30 BMW with an average lap time of 1:42.969.
Chris Lulham's first flying lap resulted in a 1:42.655, pushing Team Verstappen up to 10th on the averaged grid at that point. However, a second lap couldn't improve their standing, dropping them to 16th before Verstappen took over.
Verstappen made a late entrance into the session, finally emerging with just 10 minutes left in Q3. His first flying lap showed promise with a 32.081-second opening sector, but ultimately he posted only a 1:42.216, which placed him 15th. The car seemed to have a mind of its own, sparking around the final corner and suggesting a ride height issue. Despite his best efforts, Verstappen's second lap, clocking in at 1:42.093, couldn't lift the team from 15th.
Onboard footage revealed more than just sparks; Verstappen, Lulham, and Barnicoat were wrestling with understeer, snap oversteer, and porpoising, which pointed to a setup that was less than ideal. Meanwhile, the #2 Porsche claimed pole with an average lap of 1:42.071, over half a second faster than Verstappen's team.
Elsewhere on the grid, Nikita Mazepin's #20 Mercedes finished 39th with a combined time of 1:43.214. Saturday's race, a three-hour marathon starting at 17:00 local time, features two mandatory driver change stops. Fans can catch the action live on PlanetF1.com.