Max Verstappen Handed Reprimand and Penalty Point Following Portimão GT3 Practice Clash
Max Verstappen escapes a grid penalty but receives a formal reprimand and one Behavior Warning Point after colliding with an Audi GT3 during opening practice at Portimão.
Formula 1 superstar Max Verstappen’s highly anticipated GT World Challenge Europe outing in Portugal opened with immediate drama after stewards issued a official reprimand and one penalty point following an early FP1 collision.
Making his GT3 entry at the Algarve International Circuit behind the wheel of the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3, Verstappen made contact with Ezequiel Pérez Companc’s No. 25 Saintéloc Audi at Turn 3 during the opening minutes of Friday's practice session.
The low-speed apex touch sent the Audi into a mid-corner spin, prompting race control to launch a post-session investigation for dangerous driving.
Following a meeting with both drivers and a review of onboard telemetry, race stewards ruled that Verstappen was predominantly at fault for forcing an optimistic tight squeeze on the inside line. However, mitigating factors—including heavy opening-lap traffic—spared the Red Bull champion from a grid spot drop or time penalty.
"The stewards determined that driver of Car #3 was fully responsible for the contact, which could have been avoided," the official FIA/SRO bulletin stated. "A formal reprimand and one Behavior Warning Point (BWP) have been applied."
Despite the early disruption, Verstappen and teammates Ben Barnicoat and Chris Lulham completed their planned stint evaluations, placing 20th overall as the team recalibrates setup balances ahead of qualifying.