Max Verstappen’s model girlfriend is left SERIOUSLY unimpressed as he’s booed after winning the US Grand Prix ahead of disqualified Lewis Hamilton
- Max Verstappen won the US Grand Prix on Sunday, his 15th victory in 18 races
- The Dutchman was booed by fans as he lifted the trophy on stage
- His partner Kelly Piquet seemed unfazed by the hostile reception in Texas
Max Verstappen’s girlfriend was seen cutting an unamused figure at the US Grand Prix on Sunday as American fans booed the reigning world champion on the Formula 1 podium.
The Dutchman claimed his 15th race victory in 18 attempts and took the 50th win of his F1 career in Austin, Texas this weekend, leaving Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris behind him to take the lead at the checkered flag.
Several fans – many of them supporters of the Dutchman’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez – booed Verstappen as he walked to the podium to collect his trophy, while his Brazilian model girlfriend Kelly Piquet looked on unimpressed.
Whether it is due to his aggressive driving style, his competitive rivalry with Hamilton, his relationship with Perez or simply his sheer dominance in the sport, Verstappen has become an unpopular figure among several F1 fans in recent years.
In a video shared on social media, Verstappen is seen kissing the trophy and holding it up proudly to the sound of fans cheering and booing the Dutch national anthem, while some shout ‘Checo’, in support of his Mexican teammate Perez.
Reigning world champion Max Verstappen was booed by fans after winning the American Grand Prix
Verstappen’s partner Kelly Piquet appeared surprised and unimpressed as he was booed
Piquet proudly supported her friend Verstappen when he took the race victory in Texas on Sunday
The footage pans to Piquet holding a cell phone and recording her friend on stage, before turning to the person next to her with a surprised and unimpressed expression on her face.
When asked if the cheering irritated him, Verstappen told ViaPlay: ‘No, no. At the end of the day, I’m the one who takes home the cutlery, so that’s fine with me!’
Hamilton, who at one point looked set to end his 686-day wait for a Grand Prix victory on Sunday, initially blamed Mercedes’ strategy after slipping to second behind Verstappen and having to settle for take a podium place. But the British driver was ultimately denied second place four hours later after being disqualified for driving on an illegal surface.
Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who finished sixth, was also expelled by four stewards in Austin for the same illegality.
Asked if the booing annoyed him, Verstappen, pictured kissing Piquet on Sunday, said: ‘No, no. At the end of the day, I’m the one who takes home the cutlery, so that’s fine with me!’
Lewis Hamilton (left) and Lando Norris (right) took the other places on the podium at the end of an entertaining race – but the Mercedes driver was later disqualified for driving on an illegal floor