Who Is Max Verstappen's Girlfriend? All About Kelly Piquet

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo: FIA/Handout/via Getty

Max Verstappenis known for his heart-racing speed on the Formula 1 track. The Belgian-Dutch competitor was theyoungest driverto ever participate in F1, making his debut at just 17 years old in 2015. Verstappen went on to winhis first-ever F1 titlein 2021, and has already entered the sport’stop 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 currentlyexpecting their first child together. The couple announced the happy news onInstagramin December 2024.

Keep reading for everything to know about Max Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly Piquet.

She’s Brazilianand Dutch

Kelly Piquet and Max Verstappen in 2023.Mark Thompson/Getty

Mark Thompson/Getty

Piquet wasborn in Germanyin 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 severalphotosfrom the trip on Instagram, including a snap of Verstappen sitting alongside her daughter.

She’s a model

Kelly Piquet in 2024.Rick Kern/Getty

Rick Kern/Getty

While in N.Y.C., Piquet started working in fashion, and held roles as a stylist assistant atVogue Latin Americaand as a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman. She also followed in her mom’s footsteps in the modeling industry, working with brands likePepe Jeans,PatBoandLouis Vuitton. Piquet regularly posts snaps of her modeling work onInstagram, in addition to sweet photos of her daughter and her travels with Verstappen.

In January 2023, Piquet posed for an F1-inspiredVogue Netherlandscover 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

Kelly Piquet Instagram

Piquet’s father, Nelson, was an F1 driver in the ’80s. He is athree-time World Championand has beenranked among the top F1 driversof all time.

In June 2022, seven-time F1 championLewis Hamiltoncalled Nelson out on Twitter after a 2021 interview of Nelson surfaced, during which the retired driverused a racial slur against Hamilton. As a result, Nelson wasreportedly bannedfrom the F1 paddock.

Piquet’s brother, Nelson Jr., is also an F1 racer. To celebrate her brother’s 35th birthday in 2020, sheposteda 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, Kvyatclaimed his first podiumin 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 adorablesnapof the mother-daughter duo posing with Verstappen in front of an elaborate mermaid cake.

She and Verstappen went Instagram official in 2021

Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet.Max Verstappen/Instagram

Max Verstappen/Instagram

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,” hewrote. “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 alsoshared a photoof the couple. “Love is what makes the world go round. Happy new year and much love,” she captioned the post.

While Verstappen’s Instagrampageis 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 🤍,” shewrotealongside a photo of the couple.

In May 2022, the racer posted photos of Piquet, his motherSophie Kumpenand his sisterVictoria Verstappenin 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 onInstagramshowing 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 onInstagram.

She is very supportive of Verstappen’s career

Max Verstappen celebrates with Kelly Piquet during the 2023 F1 Grand Prix of The Netherlands.Mark Thompson/Getty

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 publicationBlickin 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, perSportskeeda.

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.”

“We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle,” the couple wrote.

source: people.com