When Formula 1 fans see Kelly Piquet in the paddock, it is easy to describe her simply as Max Verstappen‘s partner. But doing so overlooks a remarkable story that stretches across generations of motorsport, international fashion, media and modern Formula 1 culture.
Today, Kelly Piquet occupies a unique position in the sports history. She is the daughter of a three-time Formula 1 World Champion, the partner of one of the greatest drivers of the modern era (possibly ever), and a familiar figure around Grand Prix weekends in her own right. Her career has taken her from fashion and public relations to Formula E and social media, while her personal life has remained closely connected to the world of motorsport.
Here’s everything Formula 1 fans need to know about Kelly Piquet.
A childhood surrounded by Formula 1
Kelly Piquet was born on 7 December 1988 in Homburg, West Germany, to Brazilian Formula 1 legend Nelson Piquet and Dutch model Sylvia Tamsma.
Although born in Germany, her upbringing was international. She spent much of her early childhood in the south of France before moving to Brazil at the age of 12. Later, she attended boarding school in England before relocating to New York City to continue her education.
This multicultural upbringing helped shape her international outlook and fluency in multiple languages, qualities that would later benefit her career in fashion, media and international motorsport.
Of course, Formula 1 was never far away.
Her father, Nelson Piquet, won three Formula 1 World Championships during one of the sport’s most competitive eras, securing titles with Brabham in 1981 and 1983 before claiming his third championship with Williams in 1987.
The wider Piquet family also has deep racing connections. Her half-brother Nelson Piquet Jr. competed in Formula 1 with Renault before later becoming the inaugural Formula E champion. Another brother, Pedro Piquet, also pursued a professional racing career.
Education and a career beyond motorsport
Despite growing up around racing, Kelly Piquet chose a different professional path.
She studied International Relations at Marymount Manhattan College in New York, while also developing an interest in fashion and communications.
Following university, she built a career that combined media, luxury brands and motorsport.
Her work has included:
- Fashion modelling
- Public relations
- Social media consulting
- Editorial writing
- Brand partnerships
- Influencer marketing
In 2015 and 2016, she worked as a Social Media and PR Consultant for Formula E, helping the all-electric championship expand its digital presence during its formative seasons.
She also wrote for Marie Claire, appeared on magazine covers—including Dutch Vogue in early 2023—and has continued building her personal brand online through lifestyle, travel and fashion content.
Alongside these projects, Kelly has described herself as a health and wellness coach based in Monaco.
Kelly Piquet and Max Verstappen
Kelly Piquet and Max Verstappen officially confirmed their relationship in January 2021, although they had known each other for several years beforehand.
The two first met through Kelly’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., who had become friends with Verstappen during his early years in Formula 1.
Kelly has previously recalled feeling an immediate connection when they met during a dinner in Monaco in 2016. At the time, however, neither pursued a relationship. One factor was their age difference—Kelly is nearly nine years older than Verstappen, having been born in 1988 while the Dutch driver was born in 1997.
By 2020, circumstances had changed and the pair began dating.
Since making their relationship public, they have become one of Formula 1’s best-known couples.
Although occasional rumours about a split have surfaced over the years, both have consistently presented a stable and supportive partnership. Kelly has often described their relationship as relaxed and easy-going, while Verstappen has spoken warmly about family life away from the racetrack.
Today, the family lives together in Monaco.
Family life with Lily and Penelope
Kelly became a mother for the first time in July 2019 when she gave birth to daughter Penelope during her relationship with former Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat.
Following the end of that relationship, Kelly and Verstappen gradually built a blended family together.
Verstappen has frequently been praised for the close relationship he has developed with Penelope, with Kelly speaking openly about how kind and caring he has been as a stepfather figure.
In May 2025, Kelly and Verstappen welcomed their first child together, daughter Lily.
Announcing her birth on social media, the couple wrote:
“Welcome to the world, sweet Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever—you are our greatest gift.”
Since becoming parents, Verstappen has made it clear that privacy is a priority.
He has explained that he wants Lily to grow up away from the constant attention that comes with Formula 1, believing she should decide for herself in the future whether she wants to live in the public eye.
That approach also explains why the family rarely shares photographs of Lily and why she is seldom seen in the Formula 1 paddock.
Alongside Kelly, Lily and Penelope, the family also shares their Monaco home with two Bengal cats.
Kelly Piquet’s previous relationship with Daniil Kvyat
Before dating Verstappen, Kelly was in a relationship with Russian Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat.
Their story carries an unusual place in Formula 1 history.
In 2016, Kvyat famously lost his Red Bull Racing seat to Verstappen after just four races of the season. Verstappen immediately won on his Red Bull debut at the Spanish Grand Prix, the beginning of one of the sport’s most successful modern careers.
Kelly and Kvyat began their relationship the following year and welcomed daughter Penelope in 2019 before eventually separating later that year.
Despite the unusual circumstances connecting the three individuals, all parties have largely kept discussions about the situation private.
A major social media presence
Kelly Piquet has built one of the largest personal followings among figures associated with Formula 1.
Her Instagram audience has grown significantly over recent years and now exceeds (at the time of writing) 2.4 million followers.
Rather than focusing exclusively on Formula 1, her content blends fashion, travel, family life, luxury lifestyle and occasional behind-the-scenes moments from the Grand Prix paddock.
That balance has helped her establish an identity that extends beyond simply being associated with Formula 1 drivers.
Charity and personal values
Kelly has often spoken about the importance of remaining financially and professionally independent.
She has previously discussed ambitions to launch charitable initiatives supporting children, inspired by time spent volunteering in Tanzania, where she taught English.
The experience remains one of the most meaningful periods of her life and continues to influence the causes she hopes to support in the future.
She has also said she wants to set a positive example for both of her daughters by demonstrating that women can build successful careers alongside family life.
Where does Kelly Piquet live?
Kelly lives in Monaco alongside Max Verstappen, Penelope and Lily.
Monaco has long been home to many Formula 1 drivers thanks to its proximity to several European race venues, favourable climate and motorsport community.
The principality also allows Verstappen to remain close to Red Bull Racing’s European operations while providing a relatively private family environment away from race weekends.
Kelly Piquet’s influence on modern Formula One
Modern Formula 1 has evolved well beyond the racing itself.
Today’s fans increasingly follow drivers through documentaries, podcasts and social media, making the personalities surrounding the sport more visible than ever before.
Kelly Piquet represents this new era.
Unlike previous generations of Formula 1 partners who largely remained outside public view, she has built her own audience and career independent of Verstappen’s success. At the same time, her family background gives her a unique understanding of the pressures that come with elite motorsport.
Having grown up as the daughter of a World Champion and now sharing life with another multiple-time champion, few people possess such a rare perspective on Formula 1 across different eras.
For historians of the sport, Kelly Piquet also represents an extraordinary link between Formula 1 generations. Through her father Nelson Piquet, the turbo-powered battles of the 1980s connect directly to today’s ground-effect era through Max Verstappen, creating one of the sport’s most fascinating family stories.
As Verstappen continues to chase further championships, Kelly is likely to remain one of the most recognisable figures in the Formula 1 paddock—not simply because of who she is with, but because of the remarkable motorsport heritage and independent career she has built herself.
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