It looks like the Verstappen-Piquet household just got a little busier with everyone’s favourite F1 couple, Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet, confirming the birth of their first child.
The four-time Formula 1 champion and his partner, shared the news in a joint social post captioned: “Welcome to the world, sweet Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever – you are our greatest gift. We love you so much.”
Eagle-eyed Formula One fans were first alerted to the fact that a Max Verstappen baby might be on the way when the Red Bull team released a statement to explain his absence from the media day ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
“Max [Verstappen]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,” the statement read. “We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”
While he’ll still be in the seat for Sunday’s race, he was still able to be present for the birth, sharing the life changing moment with Piquet, his partner of nearly five years.
A Racing Legacy Is Born
In December 2024, Piquet and Verstappen announced they were expecting their first child together in a heart-warming Instagram post captioned: “Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way. We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.”
Following the announcement, Verstappen offered an insight into his eagerness to become a father with the media. “I’m already kind of a bonus dad,” he said, referring to his relationship with Piquet’s daughter. “But I’m still very excited for sure.”
No doubt Red Bull Racing’s Team Principal Christian Horner is equally as excited at the prospect of a mini Verstappen-Piquet prodigy. After all, not only is Max a champion in his own right, but with a former F1 driver as a father and a mum who was racing professionally until just after he was born, motorsports run in his blood.
And it’s not just one side that carries the racing gene. Kelly’s own father, Brazilian driver Nelson Piquet, was a three-time F1 champion, and won 23 Grand Prix during his 14 year career.
But when asked about how he’d feel if his child wanted to follow in his footsteps, Verstappen wasn’t exactly on board. “Well, if he or she wants to do it and I see that there is talent I would support it, of course, naturally. But I really hope not! No pressure, just live your life.”
A Max Verstappen Baby Makes Four
The baby news comes amid a strong 2025 season for Verstappen, who continues to lead Read Bull’s grid standings with confidence. Having already made history as one of the youngest and more dominant F1 drivers of all time, Verstappen is now navigating life as both a reining champion, and a new dad. Albeit one with a lot of experience under his “bonus dad” belt already.
No doubt the new addition to racing’s royal family will be a welcome sibling for Piquet’s daughter Penelope, 6, whom she shares with Russian race car driver, Daniil Kvyat. On Penelope’s fifth birthday, Piquet posted a heartwarming picture to Instagram, captioned: “Today marks 5 years since you transformed me in every way possible. I became a mamma and you made me discover love’s purest form.”
Having been with Piquet since Penelope was a toddler, Verstappen is often joined by the mother and daughter duo during race season and his relationship with “P” has always been a cherished part of his life.
“I’m not the father, that’s not the aim,” he toldTime in a 2023 interview. “It’s always very important that she has a good relationship with her own father, which she has. But I see her every day when I’m at home. We get on very well. She’s very cute.”
Will Max Verstappen Retire Now That He’s A Dad?
Verstappen might still be in the early days of fatherhood, but fan theories about an impending retirement have shifted into next gear already.
Having started his Formula 1 racing career at 17 after spending his adolescent years on the karting circuit, the now 27-year-old could be forgiven for wanting to hit pause. But a recent interview has sent followers into a tailspin, after some choice comments led listeners to question if their hero would be hanging around for much longer.
Speaking with Podpah in November 2024, he shared an insight into changing priorities after news broke of a Max Verstappen baby on the horizon. “My sister has three kids ,seeing more of them as they grow up, seeing them drive those remote cars or electric cars, it reminds me of when I was a kid.”
“That makes me realise I don’t want to drive forever. I want to see them grow up, maybe see my own kids grow up and spend time with them,” he continued.
In the same interview, he spoke about his plans to relax a little, calling the current race schedule – which includes 24 races a year – “way too much.”
“For me personally, I’ve already achieved everything that I wanted to achieve. So, everything else now is just a bonus.”
The comments came off the back of a previous interview, in which Verstappen expressed his views on work-life balance. “There are many other things I would like to do in life like enjoying time with my family.”
“Already now there are days when my parents call me, and I tell them that I will call them back later. These are the moments that make me think you can’t focus everything on racing and F1. I want to spend time with them because, since I was four years old, they dedicated everything to me for my successes and to try to bring me to F1.”
Whether we see Kelly and Lily trackside in the coming months remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – Verstappen’s newest fan will be cheering him on behind the scenes. At least, for now.
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