How Verstappen fared at the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portimão

Max Verstappen and Valentino Rossi were both in action as the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season reached its conclusion at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão) in Portugal.

With a short gap in the F1 calendar last weekend, Verstappen took the opportunity to represent his own Verstappen Racing team once more, following on from multiple outings over the last couple of years.

After their entry qualified 15th, Verstappen’s team mates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham made solid progress over the first couple of stints, breaking into the top 10 and pushing towards a potential podium.

However, a penalty during Lulham’s stint left the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 machine down in 24th position when Verstappen took over the wheel, with a Safety Car period also hampering the Dutchman’s chances of a recovery.

When racing resumed, though, Verstappen displayed all the skills that have helped him become a four-time F1 World Champion – blending incredible raw speed with a series of bold overtakes to go from outside the top 20 to ninth by the chequered flag.

Team WRT’s Rossi had hoped to be in the mix with Verstappen through Qualifying – GT World Challenge Europe’s format featuring three segments (one for each driver), with the aggregate time for each car setting the grid.

However, Rossi’s efforts were undone by a track limits penalty, which cost the seven-time MotoGP champion and his squad a lap time in the second segment, and left them back in 60th on a 61-strong grid.

On race day, with 52 entries making the finish, and nine retiring across some three hours of racing, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 classified in 50th position.

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.

F1 will return to Portimão in 2027 as part of a two-year agreement confirmed at the end of last year.