How to view Max Verstappen competing in the GT World Challenge at Portimao for free: Live streaming details, start time, and schedule.

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Following a triumphant weekend in Singapore, Max Verstappen is now taking a rare break from Formula 1 to drive a Mercedes-AMG GT3. It seems the F1 calendar isn't demanding enough for the Dutch ace, as he will be competing in Portimao, Portugal, at the season-ending 2026 GT World Challenge. Here's how and where to tune in.

The Red Bull racer will be riding high not only from his victory at the Marina Bay Circuit but also from clinching a win in Malaysia for the re-scheduled Bahrain Grand Prix. This momentum could potentially carry him to success in the Algarve.

"It’s going to be a hectic seven weeks, but I’m looking forward to it," he remarked when the entry was first revealed.

The three-hour race is set to kick off on Saturday, 17 October, at 5pm local time, concluding at 8pm.

A 61-car endurance event

Joining Verstappen in the #3 Team Verstappen Racing entry are Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham. Daniel Juncadella and Jules Gounon, the usual drivers for this car, will be participating in the FIA World Endurance Championship that same weekend, necessitating the inclusion of the team's capable reserve driver.

This marks his first return to GT racing since the Nurburgring 24 Hours earlier this year, where a technical issue ultimately forced his car out of the race. However, he’s aiming to reclaim glory in this upcoming weekend’s event, which is shorter and may provide him with a better shot at success.

Portimao's more compact layout may present traffic challenges with the 61 cars on track, promising plenty of excitement.

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When and how to watch

Date Session Start time (UK)
Friday, 16 October Free Practice 1 08:45
Friday, 16 October Free Practice 2 12:45
Friday, 16 October Qualifying 17:55
Saturday, 17 October GT World Challenge Endurance Cup Race 17:00
Saturday, 17 October Race Conclusion 20:00

Qualifying is scheduled for Friday from 5:55pm to 7:05pm local time. Race day follows on Saturday, kicking off with the green flag at 5pm and concluding at 8pm.

The GT World Challenge will be available for streaming on the GT World YouTube channel, accessible for free in various languages. Live coverage will commence on Friday with FP1 at 08:45.

2026 GT World Challenge Portimao Entry List

Car # Team Nationality Car Driver 1 Nationality Driver 2 Nationality Driver 3 Nationality Category
2 Boutsen VDS BEL Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO Morris Schuring NED Dorian Boccolacci FRA Alessio Picariello BEL Pro
3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing NED Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Max Verstappen NED Ben Barnicoat GBR Chris Lulham GBR Pro
4 Optimum Motorsport GBR McLaren 720S GT3 EVO Adam Smalley GBR Freddie Tomlinson GBR Harry George GBR Gold
5 Optimum Motorsport GBR McLaren 720S GT3 EVO Dante Rappange NED Guilherme Oliveira POR Mikey Porter GBR Silver
6 GetSpeed Team Bartone Bros USA Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Anthony Bartone USA Cesar Gazeau FRA Aurelien Panis FRA Silver
7 Comtoyou Racing BEL Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO Mattia Drudi SMR Nicki Thiim DEN Ross Gunn GBR Pro
8 Car Collection Motorsport GER Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO Reinhold Krahn CAN Pietro Armanni ITA Joel Sturm GER Bronze
9 Pure Racing LTU Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO Max Hofer AUT Mikkel Pedersen DEN Aliaksandr Malykhin GBR Silver
10 Boutsen VDS BEL Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO Alessandro Ghiretti FRA Robin Knutsson SWE Gilles Magnus BEL Gold
11 Comtoyou Racing BEL Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO Marcelo Tomasoni BRA Aaron Muss USA TBA   Bronze
12 GetSpeed Team Dubai UAE Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Gabriel Rindone UAE Mikael Grenier CAN Tom Kalender GER Bronze
17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed GER Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Ralf Aron EST Maximilian Götz GER Fabian Schiller GER Pro
19 Team Motopark AUT Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Christian Mansell GBR Aaron Walker GBR Rui Andrade SUI Silver
20 Team Motopark AUT Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Nikita Mazepin RUS Dominik Baumann AUT Philip Ellis GBR Pro
21 Comtoyou Racing BEL Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO Oliver Söderström SWE Sébastien Baud FRA Kobe Pauwels BEL Silver
23 Team RJN GBR McLaren 720S GT3 EVO Maxwell Lynn GBR Horatio Fitz-Simon GBR Ben Dörr GER Silver
24 Steller Motorsport GBR Corvette Z06 GT3 R Mikkel Mac DEN Dennis Lind DEN TBA   Gold
25 Sainteloc Racing FRA Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II Ezequiel Perez Companc ARG Etienne Cheli FRA TBA   Silver
30 Team WRT BEL BMW M4 GT3 EVO Ignacio Montenegro ARG Matisse Lismont BEL Amaury Cordeel BEL Silver
32 Team WRT BEL BMW M4 GT3 EVO Kelvin van der Linde RSA Jordan Pepper RSA Charles Weerts BEL Pro
34 natural elements by Walkenhorst Motorsport GER Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO Jamie Day UAE Christian Krognes NOR Henrique Chaves POR Pro
35 Walkenhorst Motorsport GER Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3 EVO Ethan Ischer SUI Gaspard Simon FRA Mateo Villagomez ECD Silver
41 Razoon - more than racing AUT Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO Marcos Gomes BRA Alan Hellmeister BRA Sebastião Malucelli BRA Bronze
42 Oman Racing by Century Motorsport OMA BMW M4 GT3 EVO Calan Williams AUS Javier Sagrera ESP Ahmad Al Harthy OMA Bronze
44 Greystone GT GBR McLaren 720S GT3 EVO Jayden Kelly ESP Josh Rattican GBR Tommy Pintos ESP Silver
45 Rinaldi Racing GER Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO Dylan Medler USA David Perel RSA Axcil Jefferies ZIM Silver
46 Team WRT BEL BMW M4 GT3 EVO Neil Verhagen USA Max Hesse GER Valentino Rossi ITA Pro
48 Mercedes-AMG Team MANN-FILTER USA Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO Lucas Auer AUT Luca Stolz GER Maro Engel GER Pro
50 AF Corse ITA Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO Lilou Wadoux FRA Arthur Leclerc MON Albert Costa ESP Pro
51 AF Corse ITA Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO Tommaso Mosca ITA Lorenzo Ferrari UAE Nicola Lacorte ITA Pro
52 AF Corse ITA Ferrari 296 GT3 EVO Matias Zagazeta PER Jef Machiels BEL Gilles Stadsbader BEL Silver
54 Dinamic GT ITA Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) EVO Tanart Sathienthirakul THA Francesco Simonazzi ITA Angus Whiteside GBR Silver

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