Max Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet announced on Friday that they are expecting a baby. The couple shared on Instagram that they are ‘incredibly happy’ with the addition to their family. The four-time world champion later expressed his immense anticipation for fatherhood, admitting that he has had some practice over the past few years.
The media in Abu Dhabi naturally asked Max Verstappen about the joyous news. After all the controversy surrounding his alleged feud with George Russell, the announcement that he and Kelly Piquet are expecting a child was a pleasant surprise. Rumours had been circulating in the gossip press for months that the Brazilian was pregnant, but on Friday the couple decided to officially announce the news.
‘Bonus Father’
“I’m of course very happy about it and looking forward to it,” Max Verstappen responded with a proud smile. “I’m already a sort of bonus father, so I’m somewhat accustomed to it.” The Red Bull driver was referring to Kelly Piquet’s five-year-old daughter, Penelope. The blended family lives together in Monaco. On social media, snippets are regularly shared from Max Verstappen’s streams where Penelope makes an appearance. Earlier this year, the ‘bonus father’ also invited her to come and watch the GP of Japan.
Verstappen and Piquet have been in a relationship since October 2020. Before that, the Brazilian daughter of former champion Nelson Piquet was with Daniil Kvyat, the father of Penelope and also a former Formula 1 driver for Red Bull.
