Max Verstappen has hit out at “personal attacks” directed at teammate Chris Lulham on social media while competing at an endurance event in Portugal over the weekend.

The four-time F1 world champion was racing in the GT World Challenge on Saturday for his own independent team, Verstappen Racing, and was joined by British drivers Lulham and Ben Barnicoat.

In the middle phase of the endurance race on Saturday, Lulham received a drive-through penalty which pushed his team down to 24th when the Dutchman took over. Verstappen recovered to finish ninth, in a finale which included a dramatic late overtake on Charles Leclerc’s brother, Arthur.

Yet in the aftermath, Lulham was subject to abuse online and Verstappen – just a few days after Franco Colapinto implored his fans to stop abusing fellow F1 drivers – released a short statement on Instagram condemning those responsible.

"I also feel I need to speak up about the hate and harassment Chris has received after the race,” he said.

“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. There’s no place for this kind of abuse in our sport or anywhere else."

Verstappen’s message comes a few days after Alpine F1 driver Colapinto told his fanbase “you’re not helping me” after a number of incidents involving social media abuse of fellow drivers on the grid.

Verstappen was racing in between two F1 triple-headers, the second of which starts with the United States Grand Prix in Austin this weekend.

The Red Bull driver has won the last two races, in Malaysia and Singapore, and is currently fourth in the drivers’ standings.