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Formula 1 star Max Verstappen welcomes first child with Kelly Piquet

Formula 1 star Max Verstappen welcomes first child with Kelly Piquet

NZ Herald02-05-2025
The Dutch-Belgian driver, who races under the Dutch flag for Red Bull, has won four F1 World Drivers' Championships and 64 Grands Prix.
Piquet, 36, is already a mum to daughter Penelope, who was born in 2019. Penelope's father is Formula One driver Daniil Kyvat.
Verstappen previously told the Talking Bull podcast that seeing Piquet parent Penelope helped him feel ready to become a father.
'Luckily I did get a little bit of training with Penelope, seeing her grow up already for like four years. Which has been really, really nice.
'But yes, for sure, when it's like, also going to be fully your own [child]... Yes, it's going to be a different challenge. But I'm looking forward to it.'
It comes after an announcement that the Red Bull driver would not appear during a media day ahead of the Miami Grand Prix taking place this weekend.
A Red Bull spokesperson said in a statement, 'Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby. All is well and he will attend track tomorrow for the race weekend.
'We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.'
The pair started dating in October 2020, sharing their baby news in December 2024.
Though there is an age gap of nine years between them, Piquet has said the relationship thrives as 'we have a lot of understanding and support for each other'.
Piquet herself is the daughter of iconic Formula One driver Nelson Piquet, who has three Drivers' Championships to his name.
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Kiwi racing driver's narrow road to the top

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Liam Lawson eighth at Hungarian Grand Prix, finishes ahead of Verstappen
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timea day ago

  • 1News

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Formula 1: Liam Lawson's statement to Red Bull bosses with win in Max Verstappen battle
Formula 1: Liam Lawson's statement to Red Bull bosses with win in Max Verstappen battle

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timea day ago

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Formula 1: Liam Lawson's statement to Red Bull bosses with win in Max Verstappen battle

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Back to where it all began For those of us who stay up to ungodly hours watching these races, the summer break can't come at a better time. And after we've had a good four weeks' rest, the season will resume at Zandvoort for the Dutch Grand Prix. Aside from the obvious storyline of McLaren potentially wrapping up the constructors' title on Verstappen's home ground, there's a nice bit of symmetry for Lawson. Zandvoort is where his Formula One career began, when he filled in for an injured Daniel Ricciardo in 2023. On that occasion, Lawson finished a very credible 13th place, with next to no practice time, and qualifying at the back of the grid. Now, nearly two years on, here's hoping his experience in motorsport's pinnacle can see him carry on what we've seen in recent weeks. Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.

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