Mercedes-AMG Dominates 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Finale at Algarve
In a spectacular season finale at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve, Mercedes-AMG proved its dominance in the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, securing pivotal victories with three factory-supported entries, amid a competitive field that featured numerous manufacturers.
Max Verstappen drove the #3 Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing entry, drawing significant fan attention. Despite struggling with setup issues during qualifying, the team achieved a remarkable recovery from 24th to finish ninth. Verstappen commented, “The pace of our car was really good… I had fun and managed to recover well despite the drive-through penalty,” underscoring a challenging yet productive weekend.
Another significant narrative was the #48 Winward Racing entry, following a successful appeal that reinstated the team’s results from previous races. The RACB National Court of Appeal confirmed Lucas Auer and Maro Engel as the full-season drivers’ champions, capping off a season marked by consistency despite not securing a win. Auer highlighted, “Our season was incredibly consistent… even in challenging races, we always got the maximum out of the situation.”
The race day spotlight shone on the #17 Mercedes-AMG Team GetSpeed, which achieved its inaugural victory in the Endurance Cup after battling through a challenging two-year drought. Ralf Aron, Maximilian Götz, and Fabian Schiller led the race from an early stage and maintained their advantage, with Schiller expressing relief at finally securing a win: “The Mercedes-AMG GT3 has been fast… It’s something truly special to have achieved this success.”
The event attracted a record 9.7 million live views, emphasizing Verstappen’s significant influence on audience engagement. A total attendance of 28,000 spectators further highlighted the popularity of the series and the draw of top-tier talent.
Overall, the Algarve finale not only underscored Mercedes-AMG’s competitive edge but also signaled significant shifts in driver standings and team dynamics as the season concludes, ensuring an exciting build-up to 2027.
