By Andrew Clarke
Date posted: 19 October 2026
Max Verstappen delivered a charging drive on his GT World Challenge Europe debut at Portimão, recovering from 24th to ninth in the three-hour Endurance Cup finale, but his prospects of competing in the 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour appear increasingly unlikely.
The four-time Formula 1 World Champion joined Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham in the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry for the Portuguese race on 17 October, producing a remarkable final stint after a drive-through penalty had dropped the team out of podium contention.
Verstappen carved through the field as darkness fell, eventually securing ninth place after passing Arthur Leclerc’s Ferrari in the closing minutes.
While his performance demonstrated his growing commitment to GT racing, the timing of the 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour is becoming a significant obstacle to a potential Australian appearance.
Penalty costs Verstappen Racing podium chance
Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing started 13th after struggling with its car set-up during qualifying, but changes ahead of the race transformed its performance.
Barnicoat made rapid progress during the opening stint, moving into the top 10 before handing over to Lulham, who continued the charge.
Lulham moved into sixth after passing the #64 Ford Mustang of Thomas Drouet, but contact with Luca Stolz’s #48 Mercedes resulted in a drive-through penalty that ended the team’s hopes of challenging for a podium.
By the time Verstappen took over for the final stint, the #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO had dropped to 24th.
He quickly moved into 19th before a late Safety Car compressed the field, creating an opportunity to recover further positions.
Verstappen took full advantage, making several decisive overtakes, including passing three cars through Turns 4 and 5, before securing ninth place.
“Overall, we had a decent weekend,” Verstappen said.
“Unfortunately, we made a mistake with the setup of the car in qualifying, which meant we didn’t qualify where we should have qualified. We adjusted the setup for the race and we were a lot more competitive.
“Ben had a really great first stint staying out of the carnage at the start and driving us to the front. Chris also started his stint really strongly, putting us in a good position. But then, unfortunately, the drive-through penalty meant I had to start my stint from P24.
“I had fun. The pace of our car was really good and it was very hectic with a lot of chaos around me trying to get to the front. To recover from P24 and finish ninth was really strong. Although it wasn’t the result we wanted, we learned a lot and overall it was a positive weekend.”
Verstappen defends Lulham over online abuse
Verstappen subsequently defended teammate Lulham after the British driver became the target of online abuse following the collision and resulting penalty.
The Dutchman used social media to condemn the personal attacks, defending Lulham’s performance despite the incident.
“Everyone can have their opinions about what happened on track, but these personal attacks are not okay,” Verstappen wrote.
“Chris had a really strong stint and mistakes can happen. There’s no place for this kind of abuse in our sport or anywhere else.”
Barnicoat also praised his teammates following the race, describing their combined performance as an outstanding effort despite the disappointing result.
Bathurst 12 Hour appearance increasingly unlikely
Verstappen’s expanding GT racing program has raised hopes that he could eventually compete in the Bathurst 12 Hour, but the event’s February date is proving a major complication.
The 2027 Bathurst 12 Hour is scheduled for 11 to 14 February, with official Formula 1 pre-season testing taking place in Bahrain from 24 to 27 February.
Although the events don’t directly clash, Bathurst falls during the critical preparation period for the new Formula 1 season, when drivers are expected to work closely with their teams on simulator programs, technical development, and testing preparations.
That makes a Bathurst appearance increasingly difficult for Verstappen, who must balance his endurance racing ambitions against his primary responsibilities with Red Bull Racing.
Moving the Bathurst 12 Hour up by a week would give more breathing room between the event and Formula 1 testing, potentially improving the chances of attracting the Dutch star.
However, the current Bathurst dates have already been confirmed, and no change has been announced.
Verstappen has not confirmed an entry for the Australian endurance race, and while his interest in major GT3 events continues to grow, his Formula 1 commitments remain the deciding factor.
The 2027 Formula 1 World Championship begins with the Bahrain Grand Prix on 12 to 14 March, followed by Saudi Arabia a week later.
Mercedes wins Portimão finale
While Verstappen supplied much of the late entertainment, Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed claimed overall victory through Fabian Schiller, Ralf Aron and Maximilian Gotz.
The #17 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO led home the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche of Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining and Bastian Buus, with the #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche of Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello completing the podium.
It was GetSpeed’s first Endurance Cup victory and Mercedes-AMG’s 12th in the competition.
The Portimão finale attracted 28,000 spectators and a 61-car field, the largest outside the Spa 24 Hours, while the series reported a record 9.7 million views of its live YouTube coverage.
Verstappen’s participation helped generate significant interest in the championship, with his recovery drive providing a major talking point from the season finale.
GT World Challenge Europe returns at Circuit Paul Ricard from 15 to 18 April 2027, while Verstappen’s immediate attention turns back to Formula 1.
GT World Challenge Europe Portimão results
Pos.
Car
Drivers
Team
1
#17
Ralf Aron, Maximilian Gotz, Fabian Schiller
Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed
2
#80
Ricardo Feller, Thomas Preining, Bastian Buus
Lionspeed GP Porsche
3
#2
Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci, Alessio Picariello
Boutsen VDS Porsche
9
#3
Max Verstappen, Chris Lulham, Ben Barnicoat
Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing
Results: GT World Challenge Europe.
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