The paddock atmosphere at the Portimao circuit turned electric as Anthony Hamilton, father of F1 icon Lewis Hamilton, offered high praise for Max Verstappen during a GT World Challenge weekend. Anthony's presence at the GT3 endurance event marked a historic milestone, as it was his very first GT World event after spending an impressive 35 years immersed in the motorsport industry.
Verstappen's outing in Portugal drew immense attention, particularly after a difficult qualifying session forced his No.3 crew to start down in 15th place amidst a massive 61-car grid. Amidst the intense paddock atmosphere, Anthony took a rare photograph alongside Verstappen and motorcycle racing legend Valentino Rossi, visibly thrilled by the sheer scale and roaring sounds of the GT championship.
Reflecting on the memorable encounter, Anthony shared his admiration for the drivers and the vibrant atmosphere of the GT paddock. "Great to catch up with my friends Max and Valentino Rossi, talking all things motorsport, life and family. 35 years in motorsport and my first ever GT World event. What a day! 61 cars on the grid. What a sight, what a sound. I rarely take photos, but yesterday I made an exceptiong three absolute gentlemen," he stated.
The race itself was a rollercoaster of fortunes for the No.3 Mercedes lineup. Ben Barnicoat delivered a stellar opening stint, lifting the car from 14th up to 2nd place before handing over the controls. However, subsequent driver Chris Lulham incurred a drive-through penalty following an on-track collision, forcing the team to mount a recovery drive from deep down the order.
Max Verstappen took over for the final stint with just 45 minutes remaining on the clock, re-joining the track in 24th place. Demonstrating trademark resilience, the Dutchman fought his way back through the field and ultimately secured a hard-fought top-ten finish in ninth place. Out front, the victory belonged to the No.17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed crew, capping off a dramatic weekend of GT racing.
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