What the available classification shows
The number 3 Mercedes shared by Ben Barnicoat, Chris Lulham and Max Verstappen is ninth in the organiser’s published provisional classification for the Portimão race on 17 October. The crew completed 94 laps. This is a GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup result, rather than a Formula 1 Grand Prix result.
| Item | Data |
|---|---|
| Car | #3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO |
| Crew | Barnicoat / Lulham / Verstappen |
| Overall position | 9 |
| Laps | 94 |
From 24th at the handover to ninth at the finish
SRO’s official report says the car was 24th when Verstappen began his stint after an earlier penalty. A Safety Car period delayed his recovery. Once racing resumed, he advanced into the top ten. The difference between those positions is 15 places; that should not automatically be treated as the number of overtakes completed on track.
The winners and the crew’s starting point
Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed won with Ralf Aron, Maximilian Götz and Fabian Schiller. Formula 1 reports that Verstappen’s entry qualified 15th before Barnicoat and Lulham made progress in the opening stints. Grid position, position at the driver change and the finishing result describe different stages of the same race, and should be read separately.
Why the endurance format appeals to him
In SRO’s interview on 15 October, Verstappen explained that sharing a car with other drivers is part of the appeal. He recalled racing Barnicoat in karting and working with Lulham in sim racing. Those remarks provide context for his participation. They do not confirm a full endurance programme for the following season or establish any additional race entry.
How to read the result
APEX’s interpretation: in a race with driver changes, the result belongs to the crew, and individual performance needs the context of the shared entry. The table preserves the provisional status of the available document without assuming a later final decision. The photograph shows Verstappen in Melbourne in March 2026, rather than at Portimão.
