Kelly Piquet, the girlfriend of Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen, delighted fans by posting an endearing selfie with her daughter Penelope on Instagram. Penelope, born in 2019, is Kelly’s eldest child, arriving six years before her younger sister, Lily. The photo was shared just after the Hungarian Grand Prix, as the racing season approaches its summer break.
Before her relationship with Verstappen, Kelly Piquet was linked to former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. The couple separated in early 2020 but continue to co-parent Penelope, who lives with Kelly. Later that year, Kelly and Max began dating and have now been together for nearly five years. Their first child together, daughter Lily, was born in May 2025 during the Miami Grand Prix weekend.
Kelly Piquet comes from a family deeply connected to motorsport; she is the daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet, and sister to former F1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr. Her sister Julia Piquet is married to Mexican NASCAR Cup Series driver Daniel Suarez, further linking the family to racing traditions across different disciplines.
Max Verstappen reflects on becoming a father for the first time
Following the arrival of his daughter Lily with Kelly Piquet, Max Verstappen opened up about his new role as a father. Speaking at the 2025 Miami GP, the Dutch racing star expressed hope for the future with his newborn. He said,
“I hope it’s a good sleeper. We’ve been quite fortunate and lucky. But yeah, I think there’s lots to discover – many beautiful, nice things that come with that. So yeah, I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.” —Max Verstappen
Currently positioned third in the Drivers’ Championship with 187 points after 14 races and three Sprint events, Verstappen’s 2025 season has been challenging. He has secured two wins but trails significantly behind championship leader Oscar Piastri, who has 284 points, followed by teammate Lando Norris with 275 points. Mercedes’ George Russell holds fourth place with 172 points, just behind Verstappen.
Verstappen’s difficulties with the RB21 car have hurt his competitiveness, as Red Bull struggles to keep pace with McLaren’s improvements. This situation suggests that Verstappen’s streak of championship victories may come to an end this year, ending his bid for a fifth title.
The impact of Verstappen’s family life on his racing career
The growth of Verstappen’s family, marked by the births of Penelope and Lily, represents an important chapter in his personal life. These moments offer a balance to the pressures of elite-level racing. Kelly Piquet’s openness in sharing family moments provides a glimpse of the support system behind one of F1’s top drivers.
As the 2025 season progresses beyond the summer break, Verstappen will look to regain momentum in the championship. Meanwhile, fans cherish the softer side of the driver through glimpses like Kelly’s heartfelt selfie, showing the human element behind the fierce competitiveness on track.