Max enjoys plenty of track time in GTWC Portimao FP1
Published on 16 October 2026 by Stefan Meens
Max Verstappen was the most productive driver for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing during the first free practice session of the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup. Together with teammates Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat, Max completed 43 laps of the Portimao Circuit, lapping four tenths slower than pace setter Christopher Haase (Eastalent Racing).
Ben Barnicoat said afterwards: “It’s been going pretty well. Obviously I have got some really fast teammates, which has been good. They have been doing a great job. Obviously, today is an important day today: we will try to qualify well and have a good race tomorrow.”
Ben is no stranger to racing Max, having competed against the F1 champ in karts. Now he is working with Max “He is so down to earth, so humble, but extremely talented. He has not driven the car since he did the Nürburgring 24 hours, but it doesn’t take him much time to get up to speed with things. That’s the same for Chris, who has had an amazing season, and he’s going pretty well today. So, I’m going to have to up my game, I think, to keep up with those two.”
Max completed a long first stint, with the initial feedback being positive. “Max has been pretty happy with it. We definitely need to make the car a little bit better. So far the consensus has been that we have got quite a fast car, but it’s not the easiest to drive. And obviously, when you are doing an hour stint, if it’s not easy, it catches up with you”, explained Ben.
“The idea behind doing a long run, is just to try and make things a little easier to get us as well prepared as we can be for, for tomorrow’s race. Especially at night, and this morning with it being a bit cooler is probably the most representative of what it’s going be when it gets dark. So we just wanted to get a good feel for where we’re at then.”
When the pitlane opens, Max is first driver to get in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 and take to the track. In the opening stages, he has a small touch with the #25 Audi (Sainteloc Racing). The latter spins but is able to continue without any issues.
After a 27-lap stint, Max hands over driving duties to Chris Lulham who takes the wheel for twenty minutes passing the Merc over to Ben. In the closing stages, Max makes a brief appearance, but there are no improvements to their best lap (1:43.046) set by Max earlier in the session.
FP1 Results - GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup Portimao.
1:18 and 1:43 scale models of the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car and Max’s GT3 helmet (1:2 and 1:4) are available: https://store.verstappen.com/en/c-17522
Schedule GT World Challenge Endurance Cup - Portimão, Portugal
Thursday 15 October: 12:50-14.50 Test
Friday 16 October: 09.45-11.15 Free practice 1
Friday 16 October: 13.45-15.15 Free practice 2
Friday 16 October: 18.55-20.05 Qualifying
Saturday 17 October: 18.00-21.00 Race
Times in CEST
