Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli plan dinner after show of sportsmanship

Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen thanked Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli after he clinched pole position for the British Grand Prix.

Speaking to Sky Sports F1 following qualifying at Silverstone, the Dutchman revealed that Antonelli had given him a tow and he would take him to dinner as a thank you.

“He helped me a little bit on my lap,” Verstappen explained. “Kimi gave me a bit of a tow. We’re gonna eat pasta together.”

This comes after the pair crashed out of the Austrian Grand Prix last week. As the rookie driver locked his rear brakes up the inside of Turn 3 of the opening lap, he steered into Verstappen, bringing both of their races to an early end. Verstappen’s calm reaction to the crash following the race caught the attention of fans, as did his proposal of dinner to say thank you to the Italian after Saturday’s qualifying.

“I just asked what happened, because he was the only car that was there with me with his wheel hanging off, so I was like, maybe, well, I’m pretty sure that he hit me,” Verstappen told the media in Austria.

“Then of course I saw the footage once I came back and it happens. Every driver has made a mistake like that. Everyone has made a mistake like that in their careers and also Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns from that and that’s all fine.”

He added, discussing Antonelli’s apology, “It’s of course very nice. But for me, it was already case closed. I saw what happened and no one does these things on purpose – it can happen.”

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes

Photo by: Andy Hone/ LAT Images via Getty Images

The Mercedes driver was handed a 3-place grid penalty for the crash and now appears to have repaid the favour to the reigning champion.

Looking ahead to the Grand Prix, Verstappen will start from pole position with McLaren’s Oscar Piastri beside him in second. Lando Norris and George Russell form an all-British second row as they start in third and fourth, respectively.

“It was tricky out there with the wind,” Verstappen explained after qualifying. “It was shifting around a bit. These cars are extremely sensitive to it. That final lap was good enough. This is a proper track when you have to go flat out. You have to be really committed and it’s really enjoyable.

“We are quite quick on the straight. We have to wait to see what tomorrow will do and if there’s rain around or not. I’m happy with qualifying. It’s a big boost for the team as well and I’m excited to go racing tomorrow.

“We’ll try. We are going to go racing. We are going to have fun and try to do the best we can.”