Max Verstappen admits Portimão GT penalty was deserved after comeback
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has admitted that his team deserved a drive-through penalty during Saturday’s GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portimão, despite the setback costing his crew a potential podium finish.
Verstappen and teammates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham finished ninth overall in the three-hour endurance race on October 17, after the Dutch driver recovered 15 positions during the final stint.
Speaking after the race, Verstappen described the weekend as positive despite the disappointing result, acknowledging both the team’s qualifying mistakes and the collision that triggered the penalty.
«Overall, we have had a decent weekend,» Verstappen said in comments published on his official website.
He explained that an incorrect car setup had caused excessive sparking during qualifying, compromising the Mercedes-AMG GT3‘s performance and leaving the team 13th on the grid. Adjustments before the race significantly improved its pace.
How did Verstappen’s team lose its podium chances?
Barnicoat drove the opening stint, navigating several early incidents and bringing the No. 3 Mercedes into contention near the front.
Pufff la maniobra de sobrepaso de Chris Lulham 🔥 Pensar que este chico estaba corriendo en simulador hace unos años hasta que lo conoció a Verstappen… #GTWorldEurope #gtworldchallenge https://t.co/Jt6iX9N6l6
— El Mejor del Resto 🏁 (@elmejordelresto) October 17, 2026
Lulham continued the recovery, moving into sixth position before making contact with the No. 48 Mercedes during an overtaking attempt. The collision sent the rival car spinning and resulted in a drive-through penalty.
PENALTY FOR VERSTAPPEN RACING! Chris Lulham served a drive-through for this move. https://t.co/Mku3v7P3e6
— Motorsport (@Motorsport) October 17, 2026
Verstappen accepted the stewards’ decision.
«Chris also started his stint really strong, putting himself in a good position. But then, unfortunately, a little bit of an opportunistic move on the other car ahead meant that, of course, we received a deserved drive-through penalty,» he said.
The penalty dropped the team to 24th as Verstappen took over for the final 45 minutes.
Despite the setback, the Dutchman produced a rapid recovery, overtaking several competitors, including Arthur Leclerc, younger brother of Ferrari F1 driver Charles Leclerc.
Verstappen praises car’s pace despite disappointing result
Verstappen said the improved setup allowed him to push throughout his stint, although traffic and incidents made the recovery challenging.
«But I had fun and the pace of our car was really good,» he said.
The Dutchman eventually crossed the line ninth overall, securing fifth place in the Pro Cup classification.
«To finish ninth, recovering from that drive-through, I think was really strong,» Verstappen said.
He also praised Barnicoat for avoiding the opening-lap incidents and helping the team move through the field.
The race was won by the No. 17 Mercedes-AMG driven by Ralf Aron, Maximilian Götz and Fabian Schiller, ahead of the No. 80 Porsche and No. 2 Porsche.
Although Verstappen missed out on a podium, he said the team had gained valuable experience.
«Although it was not the result that we wanted, a lot has been learned and it was a positive weekend,» he concluded.
