The lack of female drivers and opportunities for them in motorsport, especially Formula 1, is a big issue. Formula 1 is taking steps to tackle the lack of diversity with an all-women feeder series. The fashion magazine, Vogue.nl, recently highlighted the dire need for it. How? The magazine featured Kelly Piquet, girlfriend of Max Verstappen, on the cover for the “women in motorsport” issue. However, fans didn’t really have the reaction the magazine would have hoped for.
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The Vogue Netherland January 2023 edition wanted to open a conversation about women in motorsport. It is an important issue to cover which sends a powerful message to the world about women’s empowerment. However, the attempt was a big miss from the fashion magazine as the fans are talking about the upcoming issue for all the wrong reasons.
The fashion magazine chose Kelly Piquet as the cover model. Kelly Piquet has no association with motorsport apart from her family name and her relationship with Verstappen. And the blatant ignorance of the women that do represent the sport is exactly what is infuriating the fans.
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Formula One F1 – Miami Grand Prix – Miami International Autodrome, Miami, Florida, U.S. – May 7, 2022 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen with his girlfriend Kelly Piquet before practice REUTERS/Brian Snyder
To make matters worse, Kelly Piquet also spoke about her first interaction with Verstappen when he was 19. She admitted to Vogue about feeling a connection with Verstappen in 2016.
She admitted, “Max was friends with my brother Nelson and we all went out for dinner in Monaco one night. That was six years ago… Our connection started then. And I’ll leave it at that for now.”
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The fans are showcasing their anger with the magazine’s choice of going with Piquet to represent women in motorsport.
Fans showcase their anger towards Kelly Piquet for getting the job without the credentials
The January issue is not even out and it’s already brewing up a lot of controversy for the Brazilian model. Susie Wolff and Jamie Chadwick are some names fans are suggesting should’ve been on the cover in Kelly Piquet’s stead.
Seeing Kelly Piquet on the cover of Vogue representing women in motorsport is disappointing. There are so many women out there who actually compete in the sport and who have faced constant adversity. These racers should have had their stories heard instead. #WomenInMotorsport
Susie Wolff or Jamie Chadwick is the one that is supposed to be on the Vogue cover magazine. Besides what does Kelly Piquet knows about racing when she's not a racing driver? She's just the daughter and girlfriend of the F1 world champion and model.
The fans are also pointing out that simple associations shouldn’t get someone on the cover for an issue many women take personally. One fan even wrote, “walking around the paddock doesn’t deserve a cover.”
Apart from being the daughter and girlfriend of F1 drivers, what else has Kelly Piquet contributed to the world of motorsport? How many careers has she won? How many pole positions does she has? Let’s go Vogue, walking around the paddock doesn’t deserve a cover
’POLE POSITION’ Kelly Piquet by Arran & Jules covering Vogue Netherlands (January/February 2023)
Wow! Vogue Netherlands interpretation of women in Motoracing is really demeaning. Out of so many women that actually do something in/for the sport you chose Kelly Piquet??? What a joke
’POLE POSITION’ Kelly Piquet by Arran & Jules covering Vogue Netherlands (January/February 2023)
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What did Kelly Piquet do to get on the cover of Vogue NL? 🤡
Say what you will, Vogue NL’s decision to go with Kelly Piquet for the cover really offended the fans. Do you think the magazine will backtrack and rectify this error?