Max Verstappen will begin Saturday’s GT World Problem Europe finale at Portimão from 14th after a troublesome qualifying session for the #3 Mercedes-AMG Group Verstappen Racing automotive.
Grid positions are set by averaging the perfect laps of all three drivers throughout a three-part qualifying session. Ben Barnicoat ran Q1, Chris Lulham Q2 and Verstappen Q3. The automotive struggled with bouncing and dealing with issues all through. Verstappen’s 1:42.093 was its quickest lap by greater than half a second, however the common of 1:42.624 left it 14th, 0.553 seconds off pole.
It was a setback after Lulham had put the automotive fourth in second apply, and it rounded off a clumsy first day for Verstappen within the sequence. He was reprimanded by the stewards for inflicting a collision on the opening lap of first apply.
The #2 Boutsen VDS Porsche of Morris Schuring, Dorian Boccolacci and Alessio Picariello took pole, forward of the #17 GetSpeed Mercedes and the #80 Lionspeed GP Porsche. Arthur Leclerc, youthful brother of Ferrari’s Charles, begins fifth within the #50 AF Corse Ferrari.
Valentino Rossi, who shares a grid with Verstappen for the primary time this weekend, has extra floor to make up. The nine-time bike world champion’s #46 WRT BMW begins 59th after failing to report a legitimate time in Q2.
Earlier than the weekend, Rossi advised Sky Sport Italia he was relishing the assembly. “It’s going to be wonderful. It will likely be an enormous downside as a result of he’s positive to be extremely quick, however it will likely be incredible,” he mentioned. “I by no means imagined I’d be racing in opposition to Max Verstappen. I hope I get the possibility to comply with him and see how he drives.”
From 45 locations again, he might have to attend.
Verstappen and Barnicoat are standing in for normal drivers Dani Juncadella and Jules Gounon, who’re racing within the World Endurance Championship in Barcelona this weekend.
The three-hour race begins at 17:00 native time on Saturday.
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