Kelly Piquet, partner of Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen, shared a touching tribute to her daughter Penelope Kvyat on the occasion of her sixth birthday. The celebration took place recently and was marked with a series of photos highlighting a Barbie-themed party. The Dutch Formula 1 world champion and his Brazilian girlfriend, who have been together for over four years, live in Monaco with Piquet’s daughter Penelope, born from her previous relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. Kelly and Max also welcomed a daughter, Lily, earlier this year in May.
Since becoming a family, both Verstappen and Piquet have publicly shared moments from their life together, including the special bond between Max and Penelope. Despite Max competing at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit on July 27 and missing the party, Penelope often appears alongside Verstappen during his Twitch live streams, reflecting their close connection.
Heartfelt Message Marks a Special Day
On her Instagram Stories, Kelly Piquet expressed her affection for Penelope with a heartfelt message celebrating the young girl’s birthday. The emotional note read:
“Happy birthday to my first unconditional love, my first girl, my heart, my Penelope. Six years ago you made my life brighter and happier. You taught me what true love meant and have been my greatest joy since. I love you more than anything,”
This message highlights the deep bond between mother and daughter and the joy Penelope has brought into Piquet’s life.
Max Verstappen Reflects on His Spa Race Performance
While the family celebrated Penelope’s special day, Verstappen was focused on the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps. The Red Bull driver finished in fourth place but admitted to feeling disappointed with his result. Verstappen explained that he had adjusted his car setup for wet conditions; however, as the race track dried, his strategy became less effective.
Reflecting on the race, he said:
“Today was quite disappointing, and I think we were a bit unlucky. We set up for the wet, and ultimately, we didn’t do a wet race. We were pretty impacted because of the rear wing that we chose, and because most of the race was dry. It was cautious, and I felt like we could have done a few laps behind the safety car and ultimately, we want to make sure we don’t miss out on classic races as we can still have cool, wet racing.
“The race today does also show some of the weaknesses that we have; it is clear that the upgrades did work but we are limited in other areas, including general tyre behaviour and management and the balance of the car.”
It remains uncertain if Verstappen traveled back to Monaco to join in the birthday celebrations, as his family was present with him at the circuit supporting his efforts in one of his home races.
The Importance of Family Amid Racing Challenges
The Max Verstappen family birthday celebration serves as a reminder of the balance between personal life and a demanding racing career. While Verstappen pursues his ambitions on the track, moments like Penelope’s sixth birthday highlight the close-knit nature of his family. Kelly Piquet’s tribute and their shared happiness underscore the support system behind the four-time world champion. Looking ahead, Verstappen will likely return his full focus to racing but will carry the encouragement of his family with him for future challenges.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Max Verstappen a millionaire?
A. Celebrity Net Worth estimates Verstappen’s wealth to be around $200 million.
Q. Is Max Verstappen rich?
A. Max Verstappen has earned $217 million (£163 million). He joined Red Bull Racing in 2016 and quickly stood out in Formula 1. He became the world champion in 2021. His win secured his status among the top drivers. He also won the title in 2022, 2023, and 2024.