Barnicoat backs Verstappen Racing after Portimão qualifying setback

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Archive photograph: Max Verstappen · Dutch Grand Prix, Zandvoort 2024 · 2024-08-25Archive photo · 2024-08-25 · Steffen Prößdorf · CC BY-SA 4.0

After Verstappen Racing qualified 15th at Portimão, Ben Barnicoat said the team could still contend in the three-hour GT World Challenge race. He also described a speed deficit and a setup problem in the Mercedes.

From the GPBeat newsroomPublished · 17 Oct 2026, 07:40 · 1 min

Verstappen Racing qualified 15th for the GT World Challenge at Portimão, with Max Verstappen unable to take the team higher in Q3. Teammate Ben Barnicoat told GTWorld after qualifying that it had been a difficult session and the Mercedes GT3 felt short of speed. He said the car bounced heavily on the straights and the setup was not right.

Barnicoat said the team had tried a few changes, but they did not work as hoped. He also pointed to the sparks coming from the car. Even so, he felt P15 could have been worse and stressed that a three-hour race is not decided until the chequered flag.

Barnicoat pointed to what he called a strong driver line-up and said the team had recently taken a podium at the Nürburgring. He also said he was still getting used to the Mercedes after driving a Lexus. The team knew what had gone wrong with the setup and how to improve it, he added.

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