The season-closing round of the GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup turned into a showcase for a surprise guest: four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen. Driving the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG for the newly formed Team Verstappen Racing, the Dutch driver arrived at the Portuguese circuit with high expectations, yet the event unfolded as a test of adaptability rather than outright domination.
From the outset, the weekend proved demanding. In a three-part qualifying session, each driver in the Mercedes-AMG lineup received a single flying lap. Ben Barnicoat opened the effort in Q1 but ran wide at Turn 15, leaving the car with a best time of 1:43.124 and a provisional P21. Chris Lulham improved to the sixteenth-fastest time in Q2, nudging the squad to P15. Verstappen capped the session in Q3, posting a 1:42.093 lap that translated to an average of 1:42.624 for the trio, sealing the 15th spot on the grid – a respectable position for a debutant in a GT field.
Qualifying narrative and grid placement
The pole was claimed by the Boutsen VDS Porsche, driven by Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello with a lap of 1:42.071. Just 0.108 seconds separated the second-placed GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG (No. 17) from the pole, underscoring the tight competition among the Pro Cup entries. The top five qualifiers were a mix of Mercedes, Porsche and Ferrari machinery, highlighting the diverse technical landscape of the series. Despite the modest starting position, Verstappen’s squad demonstrated promising single-lap speed, suggesting that the car’s setup could be refined for race conditions.
Race dynamics and final classification
The three-hour endurance contest unfolded under a mix of dry and variable conditions, with the GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG (car No. 17) eventually taking Drivers Maximilian Gotz, Ralf Aron and Fabian Schiller delivered a seamless performance, pulling clear of the chasing Porsche duo in the No. 80 Lionspeed GP and the No. 2 Boutsen VDS. Their win also secured the Pro Cup title for the team.
Verstappen’s race was a roller-coaster. After starting P15, the No. 3 entry climbed to sixth place through a solid stint by Barnicoat and Lulham. However, Lulham’s daring overtake on Luca Stolz’s Mercedes (No. 48) resulted in contact and a subsequent drive-through penalty that cost valuable time. Verstappen inherited the car for the final hour, executing a spectacular series of passes that elevated the car from 13th back up to ninth by the checkered flag. His effort highlighted both his raw speed and the learning curve inherent in transitioning from single-seaters to GT machinery.
The top ten finished as follows: 1 – No. 17 GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG (Pro Cup winners), 2 – No. 80 Lionspeed GP Porsche, 3 – No. 2 Boutsen VDS Porsche, 4 – No. 71 Selected Car Racing Ferrari (Gold Cup winner), 5 – No. 30 Team WRT BMW (Silver Cup winner), 6 – No. 59 Garage 59 McLaren, 7 – No. 998 Rowe Racing BMW, 8 – No. 6 GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros Mercedes, 9 – No. 3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes, and 10 – No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari. The Bronze Cup was clinched by the No. 222 2Seas Motorsport Mercedes, which crossed the line 13th
Other storylines emerged during the race. MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, sharing the No. 46 BMW with Neil Verhagen and Max Hesse, failed to set a qualifying time after a lap was deleted, forcing him to start from the back and eventually retire with suspension damage, finishing 50th. Meanwhile, former F1 driver Nikita Mazepin managed a 39th-place qualifying effort in a Mercedes-AMG, showing the depth of driver talent present at the event.
