Verstappen defends Chris Lulham after online abuse following Portimão finale
The stewards ruled Lulham caused an avoidable collision with Luca Stolz at Turn 8, but Verstappen says the personal attacks that followed are not okay
Max Verstappen has spoken out against the online abuse aimed at his GT3 team-mate Chris Lulham, after a collision and a drive-through penalty cost the #3 Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG a likely top-six finish in Saturday’s GT World Challenge Europe finale at Portimão.
“I also feel I need to speak up about the hate and harassment Chris has received after the race,” Verstappen wrote on Instagram, as reported by Motorsport.com. “Everyone can have their opinions about what happened on track, but these personal attacks are not okay.”
How the race unfolded for the #3: GetSpeed wins the Portimão finale as Verstappen recovers from 24th to ninth. Full classification: Portimão 2026 results.
Turn 8, and the stewards put the blame on the #3
Ben Barnicoat started the three-hour race from 15th. Lulham took over at the first round of stops, moved the car up to sixth and then spent several laps behind Luca Stolz in the #48 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG.
At 18:48 local time (19:48 CEST, 13:48 ET), Lulham tried to go down the inside on the approach to Turn 8. The cars touched and Stolz spun.
The stewards’ ruling, Decision 30 on the official noticeboard, reads: “Car 3 caused an avoidable collision with car 48 when approaching T8, causing him to spin.” They acted on a report from the race director, reviewed the video and gave the #3 a drive-through penalty.
Lulham served it before the final driver change. Verstappen rejoined in 24th and fought back to ninth in the dark.
The abuse began in the livestream chat
According to Motorsport.com, abusive comments aimed at Lulham appeared in the chat of the race livestream and later spread to X and Instagram. Lulham was seen on the broadcast apologising to Verstappen after the race.
The endurance racing account endurance.media was among the first to respond. “Mistakes and contact are part of motorsport,” it wrote, as quoted by PlanetF1, adding that “personal abuse is never justified.” It went on: “One incident does not define a driver’s ability, achievements or character.” And: “Every driver deserves respect, even when things go wrong.”
Verstappen was among the thousands who liked that post, according to PlanetF1, before writing his own.
“No place for this kind of abuse in our sport”
Verstappen’s post opened on the racing: “Exciting weekend! Was very happy to be racing our GT3 car in Portimão.” About his team-mate he wrote: “Chris had a really strong stint and mistakes can happen.” It closed with a line that leaves little room for doubt: “There’s no place for this kind of abuse in our sport or anywhere else.”
He did not defend the move itself. In his post-race comments, Verstappen said the team “received a deserved drive-through penalty”, Motorsport.com reported. His point is the distinction: judge what happened on track, not the person behind the wheel.
Lulham is no newcomer in the team. He came from sim racing, won the Gold Cup in his first GT3 season with Verstappen Racing in 2025 and took the Asian Le Mans Series GT title with Kessel Racing this year. More on his career in his driver profile.
Our view: a fair penalty, an unfair aftermath
We wrote on Saturday that the penalty was Lulham’s to own, and the stewards agree. An optimistic dive at Turn 8 that spins a rival is exactly what a drive-through is for, and the price was high: a likely top-six finish on Verstappen’s debut in the series.
But the penalty was the consequence. It was served on track, within minutes. What came after, in comment sections and private messages, is something else. Criticising a move is part of following a sport. Flooding a 23-year-old’s account with insults is not, and it is telling that a four-time Formula 1 world champion felt he had to say so in public.
Verstappen is back in Formula 1 in Austin next weekend
Verstappen now switches back to Formula 1 for the United States Grand Prix, where he arrives 17 points from second in the championship. Session times in local time, CEST and ET: Austin 2026 schedule. More on the #3 crew: Max Verstappen driver profile.
Sources: GT World Challenge Europe Stewards’ Decision 30 (17 October 2026), Motorsport.com, PlanetF1.
Was the drive-through enough punishment for Lulham’s move at Turn 8, or should the debate have ended there? Tell us in the comments.
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