Anthony Hamilton Reunited With Verstappen, Rossi in Portimão
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 19, 2026
Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton turned up at the GT World Challenge Europe finale in Portimão and spent the weekend with some familiar faces, including Max Verstappen and Valentino Rossi. Lewis Hamilton’s father visited Verstappen’s garage, met Verstappen at the circuit and later crossed paths with Rossi as the event unfolded. He followed up by posting on Instagram about catching up with both men, calling them his friends. The gathering put Hamilton in a setting that blended Formula 1 ties with sports car racing. He said it was his first ever GT World event, a new experience for someone who has spent decades around motorsport. Hamilton also made clear he was there to watch the racing rather than pick a side. He said he was not backing any one driver, but wanted to watch Verstappen’s race closely. That made the visit feel personal and practical at the same time, with the garage stop, the on-track action and the social side of the weekend all part of the same trip.
Hamilton’s weekend
Hamilton’s time in Portimão went beyond a quick appearance in the garage. He said he was celebrating 35 years in motorsport, which gave the weekend a wider meaning for him than a single race result. He also said he has had a house in Portugal for 25 years, a detail that tied the visit to a place he already knows well. At the event, he spoke with GT World Challenge Europe boss Stephane Ratel and took in the scene around the finale. Hamilton described being there as “fantastic,” and the word fit a weekend that mixed nostalgia, friendship and a fresh look at another branch of racing. The trip also showed how broad his connections have become across the sport. He moved easily from one conversation to another, from Verstappen to Rossi to Ratel, and framed the occasion as a chance to reconnect rather than make headlines. The setting mattered because it came at the finale, but Hamilton’s own comments made the personal side of the visit clear. He did not present himself as a spectator looking for attention. He came across as someone enjoying the chance to be around drivers, officials and familiar names while marking a long run in motorsport and spending time in a country that has been part of his life for years.
Verstappen’s race
Verstappen’s own weekend centered on the GT World Challenge Europe finale during a break in the Formula 1 calendar, and he shared the car with Chris Lulham and Ben Barnicoat. The No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 started 13th after a qualifying setback, which left the trio with work to do from the start. Their race took another hit when the car received a drive-through penalty after contact involving Lulham. Even so, Verstappen took over with 45 minutes remaining and finished the run, helping the car to ninth by the end. The result gave the weekend a clear sporting shape, with the late switch behind the wheel and the recovery from a difficult starting position standing out as the key points. It also fit into a busy stretch for Verstappen, who was due to return to Formula 1 duties at the United States Grand Prix the following week. That meant the Portimão outing sat between two different racing commitments, one in sports cars and one back in grand prix competition. The GT race gave him another chance to compete outside Formula 1, while the finish showed how the team managed the setback and still brought the car home inside the top 10.
