Max Verstappen marked a significant personal milestone as he experienced his first Father’s Day this year, celebrated by his girlfriend Kelly Piquet during the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver, who welcomed his newborn daughter Lily in early May, received a touching message from Piquet alongside a photo of her two daughters, Penelope Kvyat and Lily.
The 27-year-old Dutch racing star and the 36-year-old Brazilian model, who have been in a relationship for over four years, live together in Monaco. While the couple has not yet announced any plans to marry, becoming parents has marked an important chapter in their lives.
On Instagram, Kelly Piquet posted a heartfelt message dedicating the day to Verstappen, stating,
“Happy Father’s Day to the best I could ask for”
Piquet, daughter of former three-time F1 world champion Nelson Piquet Sr., has been a steady source of support for Verstappen, often seen alongside him in the paddock before her second pregnancy. Despite Verstappen being away from his family on race day, he managed to finish on the podium in Montreal, creating a small celebration of his own.
Verstappen Reflects on RB21’s Performance After Strong Finish in Canada
Following the race, Verstappen expressed cautious optimism regarding the RB21 car’s performance throughout the Canadian Grand Prix weekend. After facing challenges with the car in recent events, he revealed a renewed sense of confidence at the Montreal circuit.
Speaking at the post-race press conference, he remarked,
“Well, I hope that we can start every weekend like this in terms of how I feel with the car, but overall, we do need more performance to be quick everywhere. I also think that this weekend was a bit, I won’t say an off weekend, but McLaren wasn’t as strong as normal. And, of course, we benefited a little bit.
“But if we go to all the other tracks now coming up, we definitely need more performance to even be close to them. This has been a good weekend for us, but we need a lot more to be able to fight with them for the whole season.”
When asked about his chances of competing for the race win before the late safety car period, Verstappen admitted,
“No. Not really, to be honest. I think we definitely optimised everything we could because, honestly, throughout the whole race, I never really felt like I was actually holding on to second.”
Championship Standings Tighten as Verstappen Chases P2
The Dutch driver has narrowed the points gap to championship leader Oscar Piastri by six points, now trailing by 43 points. Additionally, he is 21 points behind Lando Norris, intensifying his pursuit of second place in the standings. Verstappen’s consistent performance at events like the Canadian GP remains crucial as the season progresses and competition strengthens.