Verstappen Earns Rival's Praise for 'Awesome' Nordschleife Duel

Max Verstappen impressed seasoned GT3 driver Christopher Haase with his racecraft during a thrilling battle at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, with Haase calling their fight "awesome racing" and the most fun he's had in a race in a long time. The duel occurred during the ADAC Barbarossapreis, where Verstappen, driving a BMW M4 GT3, pressured Haase's Audi for the lead before executing a strategic overtake just before the pit stops.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's seamless performance in a completely different racing discipline underscores his raw talent and adaptability beyond Formula 1. For a driver of Haase's caliber—a multi-time Nürburgring 24h winner—to offer such high praise validates Verstappen's skill and highlights the mutual respect among top-tier drivers, regardless of their primary series.

The details:

• The intense battle unfolded early in the 4-hour NLS2 round, with Haase initially passing Verstappen after the F1 champion held the lead into Turn 1.
• Verstappen applied consistent pressure throughout the opening stint, showcasing car control and race management on the demanding 25km circuit.
• He secured the position by using the slipstream of Haase's Audi on the long Döttinger Höhe straight before immediately diving into the pits to hand over the car, a move that demonstrated strategic thinking.
• In a mid-race interview, Haase emphasized the enjoyment of the clean, back-and-forth fight, noting the changing pace advantages between them on different parts of the track.

What's next:

This outing may not be Verstappen's last on the Nordschleife before the iconic 24-hour race in May. The cancellation of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix has opened his schedule, making participation in a future NLS round, such as the NLS3 event on April 11th, a possibility for further preparation.