Max Verstappen is known for his heart-racing speed on the Formula 1 track. The Belgian-Dutch competitor was the youngest driver to ever participate in F1, making his debut at just 17 years old in 2015. Verstappen went on to win his first-ever F1 title in 2021, and has already entered the sport’s top 10 all-time winner’s list.
Through it all, Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, has been cheering him on. She is no stranger to the F1 lifestyle: her father, Nelson Piquet, and brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., are both F1 racers. Prior to dating Verstappen, she was also linked to fellow F1 racer Daniil Kvyat, with whom she welcomed a daughter in 2019.
Piquet and Verstappen are currently expecting their first child together. The couple announced the happy news on Instagram in December 2024.
Keep reading for everything to know about Max Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly Piquet.
She’s Brazilian and Dutch
Piquet was born in Germany in 1988. She spent her childhood living with her mom, Dutch model Sylvia Tamsma, in the South of France before moving to Brazil, where her father is from, at age 12. During her high school years, Piquet studied at a school in England but finished her senior year back in Brazil. After graduation, the then-17-year-old headed to New York City to study at Marymount Manhattan College, where she majored in international relations.
In November 2021, she visited Brazil with Verstappen and her daughter Penelope. Piquet shared several photos from the trip on Instagram, including a snap of Verstappen sitting alongside her daughter.
She’s a model
While in N.Y.C., Piquet started working in fashion, and held roles as a stylist assistant at Vogue Latin America and as a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman. She also followed in her mom’s footsteps in the modeling industry, working with brands like Pepe Jeans, PatBo and Louis Vuitton. Piquet regularly posts snaps of her modeling work on Instagram, in addition to sweet photos of her daughter and her travels with Verstappen.
In January 2023, Piquet posed for an F1-inspired Vogue Netherlands cover and spoke with the outlet about growing up at the track.
“This world is so familiar to me, I know what those guys are going through,” she said.
The model went on to explain why her world doesn’t revolve around Verstappen’s career.
“Ultimately, this is Max’s job. Would you normally bring your girlfriend or partner to the office?” she said. “I want to wake up every day with the feeling: Today I am going to achieve something, otherwise you will lose your strength, your energy, your light. I am a happy and grateful person.”
She is an F1 legacy
Piquet’s father, Nelson, was an F1 driver in the ’80s. He is a three-time World Champion and has been ranked among the top F1 drivers of all time.
In June 2022, seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton called Nelson out on Twitter after a 2021 interview of Nelson surfaced, during which the retired driver used a racial slur against Hamilton. As a result, Nelson was reportedly banned from the F1 paddock.
Piquet’s brother, Nelson Jr., is also an F1 racer. To celebrate her brother’s 35th birthday in 2020, she posted a throwback photo on Instagram with the caption, “Happy Birthday @piquetjr 🎉🎈You are and will always be my first bully ♥️😂 #35.”
She has a child with F1 driver Daniil Kvyat
In July 2019, Piquet welcomed a daughter, Penelope, with F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, whom she was dating at the time. The day after Penelope was born, Kvyat claimed his first podium in three years after finishing third at the German Grand Prix. The driver dedicated his success in the race to Piquet and their newborn.
Piquet often shares photos of her daughter, calling Penelope her “superstar” and her “ray of sunshine.” In July 2022, Piquet shared several photos from Penelope’s mermaid-themed third birthday party, including one adorable snap of the mother-daughter duo posing with Verstappen in front of an elaborate mermaid cake.
She and Verstappen went Instagram official in 2021
The couple’s first Instagram photo together came early in 2021. On January 1, Verstappen posted a snap of himself and Piquet on the beach along with a message about the future. “Happy New Year everyone,” he wrote. “Let’s make 2021 a year to remember in many ways. Wishing you all success, love and happiness just as I found mine.”
On the same day, Piquet also shared a photo of the couple. “Love is what makes the world go round. Happy new year and much love,” she captioned the post.
While Verstappen’s Instagram page is mainly dedicated to his racing triumphs, Piquet occasionally shares photos with the F1 driver on her own profile. In September 2021, she celebrated Verstappen’s birthday with a sweet Instagram tribute. “Happy Birthday to the love of my life ✨I love everything about you, about us and I am beyond proud of you. I can’t wait for all that is to come 🤍,” she wrote alongside a photo of the couple.
In May 2022, the racer posted photos of Piquet, his mother Sophie Kumpen and his sister Victoria Verstappen in celebration of Mother’s Day. “Happy Mothers Day to these amazing mothers 🙏🤩,” he wrote, with his girlfriend commenting, “Love you 💖.”
She and Verstappen share two cats
Piquet regularly shows off the two Bengal cats she shares with Verstappen, Jimmy and Sassy. In October 2021, she posted a pair of pictures on Instagram showing the furry friends snuggled close together.
She lives in Monaco
From Paris to Tokyo, Piquet has traveled all over the world for work and leisure. But her home base is Monaco, where she lives with her daughter, Penelope, and Verstappen.
In December 2022, Piquet celebrated her 34th birthday with Verstappen and a slew of girlfriends at a restaurant in Monte Carlo. She shared a carousel of images from the “amazing” evening on Instagram.
She is very supportive of Verstappen’s career
Piquet rarely misses one of Verstappen’s races. She watched him win his first and second Formula 1 titles in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Then, in September 2023, she witnessed Verstappen make F1 history when he won 10 consecutive races.
She and Verstappen are in no rush to get married
Even though the couple has been going strong since 2020, Verstappen told German publication Blick in December 2023 that “time will tell” if he and Piquet make it down the aisle.
“Marry? I? Now you have publicly pressured me to give a date! I don’t know, time will tell. At the moment I’m very, very happy with Kelly, but personally, I don’t have a timetable for when I’ll get on my knees in front of her. This should all happen spontaneously,” he said, per Sportskeeda.
He later added, “Like I said, I don’t know. The right day will come when we feel like we can put our relationship on paper.”
She and Verstappen are expecting their first baby together
In December 2024, the couple revealed that they have a “mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way.” They shared the news on Instagram alongside a photo of Verstappen cradling Piquet’s growing baby bump.
“We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle,” the couple wrote.
Source: People
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