Source: Official Team Post via X
Max Verstappen's Portimao GT3 Debut: A Frustrating First Practice
Max Verstappen returned to GT racing in Portimao, placing 20th in his first practice session. The Red Bull driver experienced some early session frustrations but showed competitive pace.
Max Verstappen, fresh off a win at the Singapore Grand Prix, took to the track in Portimao for the GT World Challenge, marking his return to GT cars since the Nürburgring 24 Hours. During the 90-minute practice, Verstappen completed most of the session, finishing in 20th place.
In his GT comeback, Verstappen found himself caught in an early incident with the Silver Cup Sainteloc Racing #25 Audi. A gesture from the Red Bull star suggested he felt the Audi moved across his Mercedes, contributing to the contact. Despite these frustrations, the focus was on getting the Dutchman familiar with the car. Verstappen clocked his best lap time at 1:43.046, missing the next fastest car by just 0.001 seconds—a testament to the session's competitiveness.
The session leader was Markus Winkelhock in the #84 Eastalent Racing Audi, setting a top time of 1:42.643. Former Haas driver Nikita Mazepin, teamed with Pilip Ellis, also participated, ending in 17th. The second practice session is set for 12:45, with all the action available to stream live.