Christopher Haase sings Max Verstappen praises: 'Tu tu  du du, there was no stopping him'

A promising qualifying session at the legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife turned sour for driver Christopher Haase, an established name in GT racing, after a costly encounter with a slower car allowed Max Verstappen to seize the advantage.

Haase had established himself in a commanding position during the qualifying sessions and was working to build a substantial gap over the pursuing four-time F1 drivers' champion.

However, the 20.8-kilometre circuit's notorious unpredictability, particularly the constant threat of encountering slower traffic, proved decisive in their on-track battle.

"I managed to get away a bit," Haase explained to the Mennem TV Podcast when recalling the clumsy incident with a backmarker.

"I always wanted to try and keep as big a gap as possible, because you never know when there'll be a traffic situation. Then suddenly someone's back on your tail. It's always a game of give and take."

The incident occurred at the infamous Flugplatz section, one of the circuit's most challenging areas, where drivers must navigate a blind crest before plunging into a high-speed right-hander. Haase spotted the slower car ahead whilst approaching the section and attempted to manage the situation proactively.

"I was driving through Flugplatz, he said. "Already on approach, I could see the car over the hill. I lifted a bit; I thought I'd better take some speed out now so I wouldn't crash into him later or have to brake hard.

"But he simply didn't see me. He was driving right down the middle."

'There was no stopping him'

What followed exemplified the communication breakdowns that frequently plague multi-class motorsport.

Haase committed to an overtaking line, only for the backmarker to move in the same direction at the crucial moment.

"So I thought: 'Right, I'll overtake him on the right.' But at that moment he steered right, and I had to brake, naturally. I downshifted. I mean, you lose 30 to 40 kilometres per hour there just like that."

Verstappen, displaying the racecraft that has defined his F1 championship-winning career, capitalised on the opportunity immediately.

The significant speed differential created by Haase's enforced deceleration provided the Dutch driver with the perfect overtaking chance.

"And naturally, Max came along, going 'Tu tu du du' [humming Verstappen's famous tune], and then there was no stopping him, and there was literally nothing to defend," Haase playfully added.

"Because when you arrive there with 50kph more speed, that's just how it is. But still, something like this will happen the other way around eventually."