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Max Verstappen fights from 24th to 9th in Portimão GT return
A drive-through penalty dropped Max Verstappen’s Mercedes to 24th, but he charged back to ninth in his GT World Challenge return at Portimão.
Max Verstappen recovered from 24th place to finish ninth in his return to GT racing at Portimão, turning a penalty-hit run into a late charge that brought the crowd to its feet. The 17 October 2026 event also drew a large audience online and at the circuit.
The 2 Seas Motorsport-run Mercedes had started 15th after a set-up problem left it scraping along in Friday qualifying, showering sparks. Team-mates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham made strong progress in the opening stints, with Barnicoat reaching the top 10 before Lulham pushed towards the top five.
Lulham’s penalty left Verstappen with ground to recover
Lulham was handed a drive-through penalty after making contact with Luca Stolz’s Mercedes during an attempt to take fifth on a restart lap following a safety car. He served the penalty shortly before handing the car to Verstappen, who emerged in 24th with 45 minutes of racing remaining.
A further lengthy safety-car period reduced the time available to make up ground, although it brought the field closer together. At the restart, with 23 minutes left, Verstappen had climbed to 19th.
The Dutchman then began working through the pack. One of the standout moments was a battle with Arthur Leclerc, brother of Charles, in an AF Corse Ferrari. Verstappen reached ninth at the finish, salvaging a top-10 result after the setback.
Verstappen’s late charge electrifies the Portimão crowd
The recovery prompted a broad smile from Verstappen as he returned to the pits, while spectators in the main grandstand responded with a loud cheer. His result capped a dramatic comeback in the Portimão GT3 finale, after the early penalty had pushed him deep into the order.
The winning car was the GetSpeed Mercedes shared by Ralf Aron, Fabian Schiller and Maxi Götz. Verstappen’s ninth-place finish could not match the victory, but the charge from 24th ensured his return was far from quiet.
The race weekend had also been shaped by a Portimão schedule change, while the race itself provided a prominent stage for Verstappen’s comeback drive.