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Meet Max Verstappen’s Portimao Team-Mates Chris Lulham & Ben Barnicoat
Highlights
- Max Verstappen competes in GT3 race at Portimao this weekend
- Team No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO includes Lulham and Barnicoat
- Friday qualifying at 5:55 pm uses averaged driver lap times
- Main race scheduled for Saturday, October 17 at 5 pm local
- Barnicoat brings IMSA and Asian Le Mans Series titles to team
- Lulham’s sim racing background supports Verstappen Racing since 2026
Max Verstappen contests the Portimao GT3 weekend, sharing the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. He joins the Verstappen Racing effort as a non-regular.
The entry attracts attention for its blend of top-level experience and familiarity. Further context sits within Verstappen’s Portimao GT3 entry, outlining objectives and programme detail.
Qualifying averages all three drivers’ laps at 17:55 local on Friday, rewarding consistency across the line-up.
Friday qualifying starts at 17:55 local. Each driver sets a separate timed lap, with the mean determining grid position. The format prioritises balanced pace and error-free execution from every driver.
The main race runs Saturday, October 17, at 17:00 local. With 61 cars entered, traffic management, stint balance, and clear communication become decisive in sustaining podium-contending average pace.
Lulham steps in with deep knowledge of Verstappen Racing’s operations. A sim-racing convert, he aligns with Verstappen’s approach and has raced regularly with the outfit through 2026, aiding seamless integration.
Chris Lulham transitions from elite sim racing and supports Verstappen Racing throughout 2026, strengthening operational cohesion.
Barnicoat supplies proven racecraft. The Chesterfield-born driver is a Lexus factory racer in IMSA, having previously spent four years in McLaren’s works programme before switching in 2022.
His résumé features the 2022 Asian Le Mans GT crown in a McLaren, a Petit Le Mans win with Lexus, the 2023 IMSA GTD Pro title, and a 2024 Sebring GTD Pro victory. He also claimed two GTWCE poles in 2021.
Ben Barnicoat’s record includes the 2023 IMSA GTD Pro championship and a 2024 Sebring GTD Pro win with Lexus.
This trio’s effectiveness hinges on complementary strengths. Barnicoat’s endurance benchmarks, Verstappen’s adaptability, and Lulham’s alignment with team methods suit the average-based format and its emphasis on collective output.
A broader weekend overview sits in the Portimao weekend guide, while Verstappen’s unique racing traits underscore his suitability for multi-driver GT demands.
The race starts Saturday at 17:00 local, with a crowded 61-car grid amplifying traffic and stint-management challenges.
Execution remains the differentiator. Clean laps in qualifying, disciplined stint targets, and pit-stop precision offer the clearest route to converting this line-up’s potential into a Portimao podium bid.
Visual Summary
MV
Verstappen
CL
Lulham
BB
Barnicoat
Verstappen Debuts in GT3
Portimao Showdown 🏁
Portimao Showdown 🏁
Qualifying: Average of 3 Drivers sets the grid.
Team harmony is the key!
Team harmony is the key!
61
cars
cars
Sat Oct 17
5 pm local
5 pm local
🏆
Season Finale
Season Finale
Synergy
Talent, experience & trust united for a one-race attack
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
