Everything you need to know about Verstappen’s GTWC debut
Max Verstappen will make his GT World Challenge Europe debut at the season finale in Portimão, sharing a Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat in the three-hour Endurance Cup race.
Why is Verstappen making his GTWC Europe debut at Portimão?
The Red Bull driver steps in after regular Verstappen Racing drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon were committed to the World Endurance Championship event in Barcelona. Juncadella is racing for Genesis in Hypercar, while Gounon is representing Alpine. The clash also prompted other teams to call up substitutes; more on the schedule change caused by the WEC and GTWC conflict is available here.
Which car will Verstappen race, and who will share it?
The #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3, run by 2 Seas Motorsport under the Verstappen Racing banner, will be driven by Verstappen, Lulham and Barnicoat. Each is expected to complete a stint of roughly an hour. Verstappen has previously raced an AMG GT3 at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, where a technical problem prevented an overall victory on his debut.
What is the Endurance Cup race format?
Portimão’s race is part of the Endurance Cup, whose events include three-, six- and 24-hour races. Unlike Sprint Cup rounds, which last an hour and are shared by two drivers, endurance events require driver changes and refuelling during the race. The grid features nearly 60 GT3 cars, with Verstappen competing in the top Pro class.
How does qualifying work?
Qualifying is also unlike Formula 1: each of the three drivers completes one session, and the grid is set using the average of their fastest lap times across Q1, Q2 and Q3. During the race, traffic is a constant factor in the multi-class field. For practical details on the event, see our guide to watching Verstappen’s Portimão race.
Is Verstappen in the championship fight?
Verstappen Racing is not in the championship fight. Winward Racing’s #48 Mercedes-AMG GT3, driven by Lucas Auer, Luca Stolz and Maro Engel, secured the title at the previous round at the Nürburgring GP circuit.
Who else is on the Portimão grid?
Among the notable names on the Portimão entry list is Valentino Rossi, who will race a factory-supported BMW M4 GT3 for Team WRT. The field also includes DTM champions Thomas Preining, Mirko Bortolotti, Maximilian Goetz and Marco Wittmann, as well as GT specialists and endurance racers.
How are GT3 cars different from Formula 1 cars?
The GT3 cars use closed cockpits and production-based designs, with ABS and traction control permitted. Drivers must adapt to their greater weight and lower downforce compared with single-seaters; tyre warmers are banned, so the opening laps begin on cold tyres. Verstappen’s appearance brings an active F1 world champion into a championship where his team is making a one-off lineup change rather than contesting the title.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.