Verstappen under investigation after Portimão practice clash
Max Verstappen is under investigation after an early clash with an Audi in opening practice for the GT World Challenge round at Portimão. The four-time Formula 1 champion tried to pass Ezequiel Pérez Companc’s #25 Audi on the inside at Turn 3, but the move ended with the Audi spinning. Race control is reviewing the incident.
Verstappen was driving the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 after taking part in Thursday’s paid test session. Friday’s first official practice began at 08:45 BST, and he embarked on a lengthy run before the contact interrupted the early proceedings.
The incident is the main complication in a session that also gave Verstappen substantial running. His appearance follows his return to GT3 competition in the event covered in F1LivePulse’s report on Verstappen’s GT World Challenge weekend in Portimão.
Verstappen completes a 27-lap run before handing over
Verstappen completed 27 laps and spent more than 40 minutes on track during the 90-minute session. His pace improved as the stint progressed, moving from the 1m 43s range to a best of 1m 43.046. That put him 18th at the time in a 61-car field, where the leading times were closely grouped.
He handed the car to team-mate Chris Lulham, the only full-time Verstappen Racing driver on duty this weekend. Lulham built rhythm but did not beat Verstappen’s benchmark. Ben Barnicoat also took a turn in the car, but likewise failed to improve the time, leaving the entry 20th overall.
Audi leads as Verstappen Racing ends practice 20th
Marcus Winkelhock set the session’s fastest time in the #84 Audi R8 LMS GT3, recording 1m 42.643. The #32 BMW, #99 Audi, #98 BMW and #46 BMW followed; Valentino Rossi is among the drivers in the latter car.
The best-placed Mercedes was the #17 Team GetSpeed entry in sixth. Verstappen Racing was around four tenths off the pace, although practice times at this point offered only a limited guide, with teams still working on set-up ahead of qualifying and the race.
The stewards’ review of the Turn 3 contact remains unresolved in the source report. For details on following the event, see F1LivePulse’s Portimão race viewing guide.
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.