Max Verstappen to Compete in GT World Challenge at Portimao

Max Verstappen, the Red Bull driver, is set to participate in the GT World Challenge at Portimao, Portugal, driving a Mercedes-AMG GT3. This event marks a rare break from Formula 1 for Verstappen, who recently celebrated victories in Singapore and Malaysia.

The race is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, starting at 5pm local time and concluding at 8pm. Verstappen will be joined by teammates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham, stepping in for regular drivers Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon, who are competing in the FIA World Endurance Championship that weekend.

This will be Verstappen's first GT race since the Nurburgring 24 Hours earlier this year, where he faced a technical failure. The Portimao circuit, known for its compact layout, will host 61 cars, potentially leading to traffic challenges during the race.

Qualifying for the event will take place on Friday from 5:55pm to 7:05pm local time, with live coverage available on the GT World YouTube channel.