PORTIMÃO, Portugal – Formula 1 sensation Max Verstappen will not be behind the wheel for the opening stint of today’s GT World Challenge Europe race at the Algarve International Circuit. According to the official starting-driver list released by organizers SRO Motorsports shortly before the event, teammate Ben Barnicoat has been selected to take the start in the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3.
The three-hour endurance contest requires each of the three drivers—Verstappen, Barnicoat, and Chris Lulham—to spend one hour in the cockpit. With Barnicoat tasked with navigating the chaotic opening lap and the initial surge of the field, Verstappen is expected to observe the race’s opening phase from the team’s pit wall or garage, providing strategic oversight before he takes his turn for the final stint. Lulham is slated to jump into the car for the middle hour.
The decision to hold the four-time Formula 1 world champion back for the anchor stint comes as Verstappen Racing looks to recover from a difficult qualifying session. The team struggled to find pace on the Portuguese circuit, ultimately settling for a disappointing 14th place on the grid. Following the qualifying run, Barnicoat admitted that a last-minute adjustment to the Mercedes’ setup had backfired, leaving the car unbalanced and difficult to handle. Mechanics have been working frantically in the hours leading up to the race to revert to a more stable configuration, hoping to provide their drivers with a more competitive machine for the endurance battle.
The grid for today’s race features a star-studded lineup of motorsport icons, adding immense pressure to the midfield pack. Among those taking the green flag is MotoGP legend Valentino Rossi, who will start in Team WRT’s No. 46 BMW. Additionally, former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin is confirmed to be the starting driver for Team Motopark’s No. 20 Mercedes.
Because of the team’s strategic decision to lead with Barnicoat, Verstappen will avoid the immediate wheel-to-wheel combat with Rossi and Mazepin at the start. However, the four-time world champion will have his work cut out for him if the team is to climb from its 14th-place starting position. With the field tightly packed and the technical issues from qualifying potentially still lingering, the race represents a significant test for the Verstappen Racing entry.
All eyes will be on the closing hour of the race to see if the reigning F1 king can navigate through traffic and salvage a podium finish for the squad. For now, the team remains focused on managing the opening hours as they look to turn their weekend around in Portimão.
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