The Red Bull racer walked over to his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, after claiming pole position for the 2025 Italian Grand Prix, as the couple shared a kiss to celebrate the racer's achievement. The Dutchman broke the all-time track record at Monza to claim what was his fifth pole position of the 2025 F1 season.
Max Verstappen claimed a 45th career pole position at the Italian GP, beating Lando Norris by 0.77 seconds amid a tight qualifying in Monza on Saturday, September 6. Championship leader Oscar Piastri finished third, the Ferrari home favorite, Charles Leclerc was fourth.
After the session, Verstappen jumped out of his car and went over to greet his girlfriend in the parc ferme. Sky Sports posted a video of the moment Verstappen walked towards his girlfriend Kelly Piquet after the qualifying session finished on Saturday, as the couple shared a kiss and a cuddle.
Kelly Piquet also reposted the video through her Instagram story after the qualifying session.
This was Kelly's first appearance in the F1 paddock since the birth of her daughter, Lily. She and Max Verstappen became parents in the first week of May earlier this year.
Verstappen managed to give a shocker to many onlookers upon Piquet's return to the paddock. Many expected the McLaren duo of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris to seal the front row in Monzo, but the defending F1 champion had other plans.
Thanks to his lap record around the iconic Italian circuit, Verstappen now holds the record for the fastest lap in F1 history, as he maintained an average speed of 264.682 km/h for his pole lap around "The Temple of Speed".
Big chance for Max Verstappen
The Dutchman, who has won the last four drivers' titles with Red Bull, will start in the front row along with Lando Norris, who was just ahead of his McLaren teammate and current leader, Oscar Piastri.
"It was tight, we were still lacking a tiny amount and we made some final changes which I think allowed me to push a bit more and that’s exactly what you need in qualifying," Verstappen said.
"For us, it’s a great moment," the Red Bull driver said.
"Historically this season the race has always been a little bit more complicated for us, but we are going to give it everything we have. That’s the only thing we can do and then we will see what happens tomorrow."
"Max has been quick all weekend and it’s never a surprise with Max," McLaren’s Norris said.
"It was quite a session for me, up and down and too many mistakes here and there. But to put it together on the last lap, I was pretty happy with P2," he added.
Leclerc briefly topped the standings early in Q3, eliciting loud cheers from the Ferrari fans, which soo turned to groans from the passionate red-clad tifosi when Verstappen went faster moments later.
Verstappen has secured pole position 44 times but only once at the Temple of speed, where he has won twice.