Max Verstappen finishes ninth after penalty-hit start in Portimão GT World Challenge Europe finale

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Max Verstappen and Valentino Rossi both took part in the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season finale over the weekend at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (Portimão), as the calendar gap between recent Formula 1 commitments gave Verstappen the chance to represent his own Verstappen Racing team again. The endurance event gathered a field of 61 cars, with 52 classified after roughly three hours of racing and nine retirements reported during the event.

Verstappen’s #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 qualified 15th. His teammates, Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham, made early gains through the opening stints, breaking into the top 10 and pushing towards a possible podium. The team’s race, however, was disrupted when a penalty during Lulham’s stint dropped the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 to 24th when Verstappen took over the wheel.

The race featured a Safety Car period that further reduced Verstappen’s options for a charge through the field. When racing resumed, Verstappen demonstrated his overtaking ability and pace, moving from outside the top 20 to ninth by the chequered flag, finishing in the points-scoring range despite the earlier setbacks.

Team WRT’s Valentino Rossi, driving the #46 BMW M4 GT3, had been aiming to stay in contention after qualifying. GT World Challenge Europe’s grid-determining format uses three driver segments, with the aggregate time for each car setting the starting order. Rossi’s progress was limited by a track limits penalty that cost him a lap time in the second segment, leaving the car 60th on a 61-car grid.

On race day, Rossi and his squad were ultimately unable to convert the starting position into a top finish. The #46 BMW M4 GT3 classified 50th, with the race marking the event’s conclusion across the weekend.

The attention surrounding Verstappen’s participation carried through to the event’s wider media footprint. GT World Challenge reported a record 9.7 million views for its live YouTube coverage and said the on-site attendance reached 28,000 people. Looking ahead, Formula 1 will return to Portimão in 2027 as part of a two-year agreement confirmed at the end of last year.