Max Verstappen thanks Kimi Antonelli after stunning pole: 'We'll get pasta together soon'

Max Verstappen has said he and Kimi Antonelli will "have to get pasta together soon" after the Mercedes driver inadvertently gave the Dutchman a tow on his final push lap in qualifying at Silverstone. The four-time F1 drivers' champion will start the British Grand Prix from pole position, after beating the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris by little over a tenth of a second. After the grid-setting session, he credited Antonelli for assisting him in securing the fourth pole of the F1 season, after starting first in Japan, Saudi Arabia and Miami. When speaking to Sky Italy , the 65-time grand prix winner quickly thanked the young Italian before turning back to the camera to continue his interview. At which point, he said there pair should eat pasta together. "He helped me a little bit on my lap, so I was saying thank you," the 27-year-old said. "Kimi gave me a bit of a tow... We'll have to get pasta together soon." That comment comes just one week after Antonelli accidentally took Verstappen out of the Austrian Grand Prix on the opening lap at the Red Bull Ring. It is also amid heavy speculation that he could leave the Milton Keynes-based squad for Mercedes, despite having a contract that runs until the end of 2028. Team principal of the Brackley team, Toto Wolff, is engaged in talks with the Red Bull driver. Whilst it is unclear who would be jettisoned from their seat to accommodate Verstappen joining, if that were to occur, the prevailing narrative is that George Russell would be the driver without a seat. That would leave Antonelli to partner Verstappen, and their relationship already appears to be in a strong place.