Max Verstappen 15th in Portimão GT World Challenge qualifying
Max Verstappen and his Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing teammates qualified 15th for the GT World Challenge Europe race at Portimão on Friday, 16 October, as Boutsen VDS secured pole position with its Porsche 911 GT3 R.
The Dutch Formula 1 driver recorded a 1:42.093 lap in the final qualifying session, helping the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO finish with a combined average of 1:42.624, 0.553 seconds off pole.
Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello secured the leading position for Boutsen VDS with an average time of 1:42.071. Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed finished second, 0.108 seconds behind, while Lionspeed GP’s Porsche completed the top three, 0.179 seconds off the pace.
HRT Ford Racing took fourth place, narrowly missing the top three by 0.002 seconds, while AF Corse’s Ferrari No. 50 completed the top five.
Verstappen improves Mercedes’ qualifying performance
Verstappen shared driving duties with Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham across the three qualifying sessions.
Barnicoat opened with a 1:43.124 in Q1, placing the team 21st. Lulham improved to 1:42.655 in Q2, lifting the Mercedes to 15th in the provisional combined classification.
Verstappen then completed his Q3 run in 1:42.093, reducing the team’s deficit to the leaders but leaving it 15th overall.
The qualifying format requires each driver to complete one session, with their fastest laps averaged to determine the starting order.
Rossi’s BMW drops to bottom of classification
Valentino Rossi’s Team WRT BMW No. 46 was classified 60th following a deleted Q2 time, according to the broadcast classification.
The nine-time motorcycle world champion drove the second qualifying segment, while Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen completed Q1 and Q3 respectively.
Hesse had recorded a 1:42.679 in Q1, while Verhagen set a 1:42.563 in the final session. However, the team’s Q2 column remained blank, leaving the entry at the bottom of the displayed standings despite an average of 1:42.621 being shown.
Commentators indicated that the deletion would force Rossi’s crew towards the back of the starting grid. The reason for the deletion and the final grid implications remain subject to official confirmation.
The main race at the 4.692-km Algarve International Circuit is scheduled for Saturday, 17 October, at 17:00 local time.
