Max Verstappen delivers a 15-place recovery to finish ninth in the closing 45 minutes at Portimao, rising from 24th after a penalty in his #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO.

Prepared by 2 Seas and run under Verstappen Racing, the car is shared with Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham. Across three hours, the trio shows competitive pace despite setbacks.

Barnicoat starts cleanly, capitalising on early incidents to rise from 14th to eighth within an hour. Two safety cars compress the field and reshape strategic opportunities.

Lulham continues the progress, taking sixth with an outside move on Thomas Drouet at Turn 7.

Soon after a restart, contact with Luca Stolz at Turn 8 spins Winward’s AMG. Race control issues a drive-through for causing a collision, dropping the #3 to 24th.

Verstappen attacks immediately, thriving in heavy traffic during a chaotic final hour. Crisp passes and consistent pace elevate the Mercedes to ninth against evenly matched rivals.

The Dutchman frames the weekend as a learning exercise. Qualifying suffers when the car runs too low and scrapes, but pre-race adjustments restore balance and braking confidence.

Barnicoat’s disciplined opening stint proves pivotal, avoiding trouble and preserving tyre life. Lulham’s pace is strong before the penalty, underlining the car’s underlying speed profile.

Barnicoat highlights Verstappen’s recovery as the standout, while the group values mileage and teamwork from a compressed, incident-heavy race.

Within the regulatory framework, the drive-through is proportionate. Safety cars compress gaps, but also complicate tyre temperatures and traffic management, accentuating risk around Portimao’s off-camber braking zones.

The result, ninth from 24th, validates the 2 Seas package and operational choices. It offers a baseline for future Endurance Cup rounds, where execution margins are similarly thin.

Verstappen’s adaptability outside Formula 1 is again evident, complementing Barnicoat’s experience and Lulham’s speed. That blend makes the #3 a credible threat when races stay penalty-free.

Visual Summary

Daniel Miller

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.