Who Is Max Verstappen's Girlfriend, Kelly Piquet? Inside the F1 Driver's Romance

The definition of a power couple.
Max Verstappen and girlfriend Kelly Piquet
Photo: Getty Images | Design: Natalie Romine
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
by
Sarah Hanlon
sarah hanlon entertainment and celebrity editor the knot
Sarah Hanlon
Entertainment & Celebrity Editor
  • Sarah is the Entertainment & Celebrity Editor for The Knot, with special focuses on pop culture and celebrity wedding news.
  • Before joining The Knot Worldwide, Sarah was a contributing writer for Bravo at NBC Universal.
  • Sarah has a degree in journalism and resides in New York City.
Updated May 22, 2024

Max Verstappen is widely regarded as one of the best Formula One racecar drivers today—and he hasn't risen to the top alone. The Belgian and Dutch racer, who competes for Red Bull, made history as the youngest F1 driver of all time, marking his debut at just 17 years of age. Since then, the 26-year-old has gone on to win three F1 World Drivers' Championship titles, securing his ranking as one of the top 10 all-time winners.

But who is Max Verstappen's girlfriend, Kelly Piquet? His romantic partner also has ties to the world of Formula One: Her father, Nelson Piquet, and brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., are both F1 racers as well. After taking their romance public in 2021, Piquet has been a constant supporter of Verstappen's career, often cheering him on both on social media and from the stands.

We take a deep dive into Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet's romance here, breaking down exactly how they met and when they began dating. Plus, see everything Verstappen has said about their *potential* future wedding.

  • Max Verstappen is dating Kelly Piquet. They have been together since 2020, and took their relationship public in 2021.
  • Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet met in Monaco during a group dinner with her brother, fellow F1 racer Nelson Piquet Jr.
  • Kelly Piquet has a daughter, Penelope, from a previous relationship, who occasionally appears in photos with Verstappen.

In this article:

Who Is Max Verstappen's Girlfriend, Kelly Piquet?

Max Verstappen and Girlfriend Kelly Piquet
Photo: Peter Fox / Getty Images

Max Verstappen's girlfriend is Kelly Piquet, a 35-year-old model. Born in Germany in 1988, Piquet was raised in France before relocating to Brazil. She studied international relations at Marymount Manhattan College in New York.

Before kickstarting her career as a model, Piquet held a few roles in the fashion industry. Not only was she a buyer for Bergdorf Goodman, she also worked as an assistant at Vogue Latin America. Piquet appeared on the cover of Vogue Netherlands in 2022 and has modeled for brands like PatBo and Louis Vuitton.

How Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet Met

Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet
Photo: Mark Thompson / Getty Images

Considering their deep ties to the Formula One industry, it won't come as a surprise that F1 brought this couple together. Max Verstappen and his girlfriend Kelly Piquet met in 2016 during a group dinner in Monaco with her brother, Nelson Piquet Jr.

At the time, Piquet was in a relationship with F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. They welcomed a daughter, Penelope, in 2019, but split later that year. She reconnected with Verstappen, and they began dating in 2020.

Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet's Relationship Timeline

After their 2016 meet-cute, Kelly Piquet has been a constant supporter of Max Verstappen's career—in fact, she's been by his side for each Formula One World Drivers' Championship title win, in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Here's a look inside their relationship timeline, including where they stand today.

2016: Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet Meet

Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet were friendly for years before they began dating. The two met during a dinner party with her brother in 2016. Although she was with her ex at the time, Piquet opened up about meeting Verstappen in a 2022 interview with Vogue Netherlands, saying, "Something magical happened that night."

2020: Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet Begin Dating

While we don't know exactly when their platonic relationship shifted, Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet quietly began dating in 2020.

2021: Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet Make Their Romance IG Official

The racecar driver rang in 2021 on a high note, using the holiday to announce his romance with Piquet. "Happy New Year everyone! 🥳🥳🥳 Let's make 2021 a year to remember in many ways," he captioned a photo of them on the beach. "Wishing you all success, love and happiness just as I found mine ❤️."

Piquet hard-launched their relationship on her social media as well, writing, "Love is what makes the world go round. Happy new year and much love."

2023: Max Verstappen Opens Up About Marriage

Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet aren't getting married…at least, not quite yet. In a December 2023 interview with German publication Blick, the racer was asked about his future plans with his girlfriend, including a potential walk down the aisle. "Marry? I? Now you have publicly pressured me to give a date! I don't know, time will tell," he explained in a translated version via Sportskeeda. "At the moment I'm very, very happy with Kelly, but personally, I don't have a timetable for when I'll get on my knees in front of her. This should all happen spontaneously."

He continued, "Like I said, I don't know. The right day will come when we feel like we can put our relationship on paper."

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