Girlfriend steals the show after Max Verstappen's Monaco GP triumph
No one was more excited after Max Verstappen's incredible win at the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday than girlfriend Kelly Piquet.
Verstappen capitalised on Ferrari pole-sitter Charles Leclerc's cruel last-minute withdrawal to win the Grand Prix and go top of the drivers' world championship for the first time.
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Carlos Sainz took second for Ferrari with Lando Norris of McLaren completing the podium.
Red Bull's Verstappen displaced Lewis Hamilton at the top of the 2021 standings after the Mercedes world champion finished in seventh.
The Dutch driver pitched up in the Principality trailing Hamilton by 14 points, and leaves it four points ahead.
"It's so special to win. The first time for me on the podium here," Verstappen said.
"It was all about looking after the tyres. I was pretty much in control."
Piquet rushed over to Verstappen after he got out of his car and embraced her boyfriend.
The 32-year-old couldn't even wait for him to take off his helmet before planting a big kiss on her man.
They then hugged and kissed as Verstappen soaked up his incredible victory.
Can we talk about the fact that Max Verstappen’s girlfriend just kissed his helmet while wearing a mask.
— Deodorized Startup (@MickEnglewood) May 23, 2021
Not Verstappen’s girlfriend kissing him on his helmet.... ma’am???
— girl... we in a panoramic (@nazm14_) May 23, 2021
Verstappen and Hamilton in war of words
After the race, Hamilton said he won't be drawn into a "childish war of words" with Verstappen, but the tensions are clearly rising between the two favourites for the world title.
In the build-up to the fifth round of their spellbinding title battle, Hamilton lit the touch paper in his rivalry with Verstappen by claiming the Dutchman has a lot to prove.
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner then suggested Verstappen is getting under Hamilton's skin - and in the moments after dancing his way to victory on the sport's most famous streets, the new leader couldn't resist a barb.
"Actions always speak louder than words," he said, signing off from his winner's press conference.
"That's a good lesson after this weekend.
"You only have to talk on the track and that is what I like. We as a team so far made the smallest mistakes. That's why we are ahead."
Responding to his rival, Hamilton said: "I am not playing mind games. It is interesting what Christian comes out with, but I couldn't care less.
"They did a great job this weekend and that's that.
"There are 17 races to go. I'm not going to say more. It's childish when you start getting into a war of words."
Verstappen, who started from the front after pole-sitter Charles Leclerc was ruled out of the race following a mechanical failure, led virtually every lap on his way to a crushing victory in the principality.
Hamilton pointed the finger at his team after losing two positions during the opening round of pit-stops.
"It was not a great weekend but I don't feel like I am dwelling on it," added Hamilton, now four points behind Verstappen.
with agencies
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