Ben Barnicoat, Lexus IMSA driver, has acknowledged that he will need to improve his performance to keep up with Max Verstappen and Chris Lulham during the grand final of the GT World Challenge Europe at the Portimao circuit. Barnicoat has joined the #3 of Verstappen Racing, an opportunity that allows him to reunite with Verstappen, a karting partner from his early days.
Although Barnicoat had not driven the Mercedes-AMG GT3 since the 24 Hours of Nurburgring in 2026, he highlighted Verstappen’s impressive pace in the early practice sessions, stating that the Formula 1 driver shows a rapid ability to adapt to the track.
Barnicoat stated: ‘It’s like being a normal racing car teammate. He is a very humble and extremely talented person. After not driving the car for such a long time, the first lap he does leaves you impressed.’ He recognizes that his performance will need to improve to keep pace with his teammates.
During the first free practice session, Verstappen completed a long lap of 48 minutes, focusing on assessing tire wear and car stability. Barnicoat commented that, despite having a fast car, adjustments still need to be made to improve its handling, especially under the nighttime conditions they are expecting.
Barnicoat was not worried about having set the 20th best time in the first session, as the morning freshness gives indications of what the car’s behavior will be like at night. For him, being in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 represents a return to vehicles with which he has had prior experience, even though he has to readjust after regularly competing with a Lexus.
With the mindset of competing at the highest level, Barnicoat is confident that his team can make the necessary adjustments to successfully face the two races awaiting them over the weekend.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
