Max Verstappen will make his GT World Challenge Europe debut at Portimão from 16 to 18 October, sharing the Pro class grid with Valentino Rossi. The four-time Formula 1 champion will drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for Team Verstappen Racing, while Rossi lines up in BMW’s factory-supported WRT entry, according to Crash.net. The Verstappen Rossi Portimão weekend has quickly become one of the most talked about dates on the GT calendar. It pairs two of motorsport’s biggest names in the same category for the first time.
Primary Source Attribution & Official Details
Speaking to Crash.net before the event, Verstappen said he’s looking forward to crossing paths with Rossi away from the car. “I hope I get to see him,” he said. “He’s a very cool guy, so I hope to catch up with him.”
That warmth comes with a racing caveat. “I mean it nice, but I do not hope to see him in the race, so that’s normally a good sign,” Verstappen said. A clear track ahead usually points to a strong result for him. He was just as blunt about his own ambitions for the weekend. “I actually hope to see no one, to be just up front and do a good job,” he added. “The grid is super competitive, so I’m just looking forward to the challenge.”
Squad Impact & Tactical Context
Verstappen’s entry runs through his own team, Team Verstappen Racing, which fields the Mercedes-AMG GT3 he will drive at Portimão. Rossi, by contrast, is with BMW’s factory-supported WRT squad, one of the strongest outfits on the GT3 grid. Both drivers will race in the Pro category, the toughest class in the field this weekend. That’s what makes the Verstappen Rossi Portimão pairing such a notable one for GT fans.
For Verstappen, stepping into GT3 machinery is a change from the single seater he’s used to all season. “It’s very different to Formula 1, but I love it,” he told Crash.net. “I had my first taste already this year at the Nordschleife, and Portimão is a very cool track to drive.”
That groundwork has included time on the simulator, detailed in his GT3 preparation piece earlier this week. It came not long after he ran the medium tyre in FP2, covered in our Verstappen tyre report. GT3 racing is a lot heavier and more crowded than the cars he races in the championship, with a much bigger field than he ever sees in Formula 1. He’s treated the step as a challenge worth taking rather than a distraction from the main job.
What Happens Next / Upcoming Timeline
The Portimão round sits in a tight window on Verstappen’s calendar. It falls in a brief gap between two Formula 1 triple-headers. The Azerbaijan, Malaysia and Singapore rounds come before it, and the USA, Mexico and Brazil triple-header follows.
After that run there’s only one free weekend before the final scheduled triple-header of the season, in Las Vegas, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. It leaves barely any downtime this autumn, but Verstappen has made clear the GT3 trip is one he wanted to make rather than one the schedule forced on him.
