Max Verstappen has spoken out against the online abuse directed at his GT3 teammate Chris Lulham following the GT World Challenge Europe season finale at Portimão, Portugal.
Lulham received a wave of criticism after an on-track incident resulted in a drive-through penalty for the No. 3 Mercedes-AMG GT3 shared by Verstappen, Lulham, and Ben Barnicoat. While the incident attracted criticism from fans, the four-time Formula 1 champioon made it clear that personal attacks against his teammate were unacceptable.
“Exciting weekend! Was very happy to be racing our GT3 car in Portimão. There were some ups and downs, but as a team we learned a lot. I also feel I need to speak up about the hate and harassment Chris has received after the race,” he said, addressing the backlash in a post on X, defending Lulham.
(Photo by David Davies/PA Images via Getty Images)
“Everyone can have their opinions about what happened on track, but these personal attacks are not okay. Chris had a really strong stint, and mistakes can happen,” the Dutch driver added, acknowledging that fans could disagree with Lulham’s move but drew a clear distinction between discussing an on-track incident and directing personal abuse at a driver.
“There’s no place for this kind of abuse in our sport or anywhere else,” the Red Bull driver concluded.
How the Penalty Affected Max Verstappen’s GT3 Team
The controversy followed a difficult moment during the three-hour endurance race. Lulham was running strongly in the No. 3 Mercedes before contact with the sister No. 48 Mercedes, driven by Luca Stolz, resulted in a drive-through penalty for Verstappen Racing.
The penalty disrupted the team’s progress and left Verstappen taking over the car in 24th place for the final stint. He mounted a recovery drive through the field to finish ninth overall.
Although the team lost the opportunity to fight for a stronger result, Verstappen’s message focused on the treatment of his teammate rather than dismissing the racing incident itself. His response highlights a distinction that often gets lost in the reaction to motorsport incidents: fans can criticize a driver’s decision without turning that criticism into personal harassment.
Lulham’s mistake had consequences for the team, but Verstappen also recognized that his teammate had delivered a strong stint before the incident. His message did not suggest that the move was beyond criticism; instead, it made clear that a racing mistake does not justify abuse.
With Verstappen increasingly involved in GT racing through his own team, the incident also brought attention to the pressures faced by drivers competing alongside one of Formula 1’s biggest names. His public defense of Lulham sent a straightforward message: hold drivers accountable for what happens on track, but leave personal attacks out of the sport.
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