Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 champion, announced on Friday that he and his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, are expecting their first child. Verstappen, who secured his fourth F1 title in Las Vegas last month, shared the news on Instagram, expressing their joy with the message, “Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way.”
Both families have a rich racing heritage. Verstappen’s father, Jos, competed in F1 during the 1990s and early 2000s, while Kelly Piquet’s father, Nelson Piquet, is a three-time F1 champion from the 1980s. Kelly’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., also made his mark in motorsport as an F1 driver for Renault in the 2000s and later became the 2014-15 Formula E champion.
Verstappen, who is aiming for his 10th race win of the season at the upcoming Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, expressed excitement for both the upcoming race and the growing family.