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Formula 1Sun 18 Oct 2026 · 8 of 13

Verstappen’s GT comeback sees top‑10 finish amid huge Portimao audience

Unsupported claims · 4/5 supported1 cited · 1 min read

The Race reports that Max Verstappen returned to GT racing at the Portimao GT World Challenge event, drawing a huge audience both online and at the track . The Race reports that a set‑up miscue left his 2 Seas Motorsport‑run Mercedes qualifying 15th on the grid, while teammates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham quickly advanced, with Barnicoat into the top ten and Lulham into the top five . The Race reports that Lulham received a drive‑through penalty for helping Luca Stolz’s Mercedes spin, after which Verstappen took over the car in 24th place with about 45 minutes of racing remaining . The Race reports that a long safety‑car period cost Verstappen several laps, but with 23 minutes left he was 19th and then launched a charge forward, battling Arthur Leclerc and ultimately finishing in the top ten .

Why it matters. The Race reports that the large audience and Verstappen’s top‑10 finish highlight strong fan engagement with GT racing during F1 breaks .

Earlier on Formula 1

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