Max Verstappen benefits from major change ahead of Portimão GT race

The changes were announced by the organizers a few hours before the race at Portimão, where Verstappen will compete alongside Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham for Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing. The trio will start from 14th place after a disappointing qualifying session.

The Mercedes will avoid extra weight for the race. The same cannot be said for its rivals. The organisers have decided to add 20 kilograms to the Porsche 911 GT3 R. The Ferrari 296 GT3 will get an extra 15 kilograms, while the Ford Mustang GT3 will be 10 kilograms heavier.

The Balance of Performance (BoP) is a system that the organizers use to bring the performance of different GT3 cars closer together. Unlike in Formula 1, competitors in the GT World Challenge race cars from different manufacturers, which can vary significantly from one another.

For example, the cars have different engines, bodywork, aerodynamic characteristics and weight distributions. Without adjustments, one car model could have a significant advantage over another at certain circuits.

To prevent this, the organisers can adjust the performance of the different models. This is done, among other things, by increasing or reducing the minimum weight and limiting the available engine power. These adjustments are based on data about the cars' performance.

The aim is not to make every car exactly equally fast, but to prevent one manufacturer from gaining a consistently excessive advantage because of its car's characteristics. This should give the drivers' ability, car setup and strategy a greater influence on the result.

As mentioned, Verstappen Racing's Mercedes will not be made heavier. This gives it an advantage over the Porsche, Ferrari and Ford models, which will have to carry extra ballast. More weight can affect acceleration, braking, cornering speed and tyre wear. The extent of the impact at Portimão will become clear during the race.

The Dutchman will not start the race himself, however. Barnicoat will take the wheel for the opening stint, starting from 14th place. Verstappen and Lulham will take over the Mercedes during the race.