Ludo van Denderen is a motorsport journalist at GPblog, specializing in Formula 1 and international racing series.
Max Verstappen will not take the start of the GT World Challenge Europe race in Portimão. His team-mate Ben Barnicoat will start in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 entered by Verstappen Racing. This has been made clear from the official starting-driver list, which was published shortly before the race.
Verstappen is sharing the Mercedes with Barnicoat and Chris Lulham for the three-hour race at the Portuguese circuit. Each driver must spend an hour behind the wheel during the race. Barnicoat is listed as the starting driver of the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing car on the official list published by race organiser SRO Motorsports.
This means Verstappen will have to follow the opening phase from the pit wall or garage. It has been confirmed that Lulham will take on the second stint, leaving the four-time F1 world champion for the final run.
Verstappen Racing faces a major challenge. The Mercedes was not optimally set up during qualifying, leaving the team to settle for 14th on the grid. Barnicoat said afterwards that an adjustment to the setup had backfired. The team hoped to resolve the problem before the race.
The official starting list also confirms that former MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi will take the start in Team WRT’s No. 46 BMW. Former Formula 1 driver Nikita Mazepin is also listed as a starting driver, in Team Motopark’s No. 20 Mercedes. Verstappen will therefore not share the opening stint with either Rossi or Mazepin.
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