Verstappen climbs from P24 to ninth after penalty in Portimão GT finale

Max Verstappen produced a remarkable recovery from P24 to ninth in the final stint of the GT World Challenge Europe season finale at Portimão. A drive-through penalty had ended Verstappen Racing’s podium chance, and even a top-10 finish looked unlikely. Verstappen made 15 overtakes in a roughly 45-minute stint interrupted by a safety car.

The team set the 15th-fastest qualifying time after a setup error but started from 13th. Ben Barnicoat moved the car from P13 to P8 in his stint, and Chris Lulham continued the progress before the team received a drive-through near the end of Lulham’s stint. Verstappen began his own stint in 24th.

The safety car kept the field together and helped Verstappen to some extent. His standout move came late, when he passed three rivals in one sequence over two corners.

Portimão was Verstappen’s GT World Challenge Europe debut and a circuit where he had not previously driven the Mercedes-AMG GT3. He had said he was still getting used to the car; before Portimão, the Nürburgring was the only circuit where he had driven it.