Max Verstappen. All of 26 years of age, he’s already on top of the world. The Dutch prodigy took the Formula 1 world by storm when he joined the field as a 17-year-old. Since then, all he’s done is set a standard, a standard that numerous others have failed to attain. His killer instinct on track and his sheer talent has ensured he’s achieved everything he ever wanted. An F1 seat? Done. A race win? Done. A championship? Done, done, and done. 

As of last weekend, Verstappen officially became a three-time world champion. That’s no easy feat to achieve and to have done it the way he did was just mind-boggling. He annihilated the field throughout the year and, in the process, gave Red Bull its sixth Constructors’ Championship, too. He has achieved everything he wanted. In F1, at least. But does that everything include a better half to celebrate his achievements with? Yes, it does!

Who is Max Verstappen’s girlfriend, Kelly Piquet?

Formula 1 is a team game, both personally and professionally. Drivers can’t succeed without the support of the team they race for. Neither can they do well without a personal support system. The sport is demanding, challenging, and extremely pressurizing, and the people in a driver’s camp make it easier. And if one person in Verstappen’s team is there to support him every chance they get, it’s his girlfriend Kelly Piquet.

Does the name Piquet sound familiar? That’s because it is! Well, at least in the F1 circle, it is. Kelly Piquet is the daughter of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet. The F1 track has basically been her second home throughout her life, and she’s no stranger to the paddock. Especially not since 2021. The pair started dating at the end of 2020, but Piquet made it official with a 2021 New Year’s Instagram post. Although they met quite some time ago, Piquet became a crucial part of his team right before the toughest season of his career. Through the past three years, Piquet has stood by and supported Verstappen—whether after a big achievement or a tough loss.

Although F1 has been a constant in her life, it’s not all that defines her. Apart from being a Brazilian-Dutch model and fashionista, she’s also a columnist and PR professional. She’s worked with brands like Pepe Jeans and Louis Vuitton and has also been featured on Vogue magazine. Speaking of fashion and modeling, she was most recently a part of the Paris Fashion Week, where she modeled for Louis Vuitton, among other brands. Despite the hectic schedule, she made time to go back home to Monaco and celebrate Verstappen’s 26th birthday. That’s what she does—she’s there for the big moments, but she’s also there for the small ones.

Verstappen doesn’t speak too often about his relationship with Piquet, but he sure knows he’s lucky to have her support. He showed just how much Kelly means to him in an interview where just talking about her left him in tears. Max and Kelly are one of F1’s power couples. There’s no denying that. Whenever they walk into the paddock together, they turn heads. But as supportive as Kelly is of Verstappen and makes it a point to come for races as often as she can, her first, most important—and favorite—job is being a mother. Does that mean that Verstappen has a child?

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Does Max Verstappen have a daughter?

Before Kelly Piquet started dating Max Verstappen, she was in a relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. The pair dated for three years—from 2017 to 2019. In 2019, they had a daughter, Penelope, who’s now four. Shortly after her birth, though, Piquet and Kvyat split. So, no. Verstappen isn’t a father, but he sure is a father figure in Penelope’s life (not that Kvyat isn’t an involved parent. He definitely is). Verstappen, Piquet, and Penelope now live together in Monaco, and as per Verstappen’s mother, Sophie Kumpen, they’ve formed a little family.

In an interview, Kumpen said, “They’ve created something like a little family. I think Max maybe missed that when he was young. I think stability has also helped him, as he knows someone is waiting for him at home. When you see how sweet he is to her child, but also for his sister, for me, he has his heart in the right place.” Verstappen sure is very sweet to Penelope. In fact, fans have even called him the “perfect stepdad.”

There are times when Verstappen—a driver who loves his home simulator and spends as much time on it as possible—gives up simulator time to have tea parties with Penelope. He also doesn’t let anyone come within a certain radius of his simulator, but guess who can break through that barrier? Penelope. Verstappen doesn’t even mind when she randomly comes up to him and gives him hugs and kisses. While talking about this, Verstappen revealed, “Well, it’s a part of it all, isn’t it? No, for me, it’s really nice and sweet. And of course, those streams we do together, you need a lot less concentration for that. She just thinks like, ‘Fun! Screens! Steering wheel!’”

So here’s the bottom line: Is Max Verstappen married? No, he isn’t. But considering how strong his bond with Kelly is—whether or not he’s ready—fans want to hear wedding bells soon. Does the Dutchman have kids? Biologically, no, but he sure is a significant and lovely influence in Penelope’s life. There’s no doubt Verstappen is winning on track, but he’s also winning in life!

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