Newly crowned four-time Formula One champion Max Verstappen has capped off a monumental year on the track with a personal milestone, announcing girlfriend Kelly Piquet is pregnant.
The child will be Verstappen’s first but the 27-year-old has been a father figure since the beginning of his relationship with Piquet, who turns 36 on Saturday.
Piquet gave birth to daughter Penelope in 2019 and split with the baby’s father Daniil Kvyat — the former F1 driver who Verstappen replaced at Red Bull Racing — later that year.
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Verstappen and Piquet became an item in 2020.
“Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way,” the couple wrote on Friday, just hours before Verstappen’s last race weekend of the F1 season.
“We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.”
The baby’s racing genes did not go unnoticed.
Verstappen is the son of former F1 driver Jos while Piquet is the daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet.
“Verstappen-Piquet, all the other kids go karting can pack their bag. Congrats to you two,” Dutch former F1 driver Giedo van der Garde wrote.
F1 race winner David Coulthard said: “Here comes the next 10x World Champion.”
Verstappen’s sister Victoria, who has three children herself, said: “Can’t wait!”
Other racing drivers also rushed to celebrate.
“Congrats guys!” Albert Costa Balboa wrote.
“Congratulations to both of you again!” NASCAR’s Daniel Suarez said.
The pregnancy announcement has shifted Verstappen’s mood after a dispute escalated heading into this weekend’s Abu Dhabi finale.
Verstappen last week said he lost all respect for Mercedes rival George Russell following a near miss in qualifying.
In turn, Russell has now accused Verstappen of bullying and threatening behaviour.
“I’ve known Max for 12 years, I’ve respected him all of this time but now I’ve lost respect for him because we’re all fighting on track and it’s never personal,” Russell said in comments on Sky Sports ahead of this weekend’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
“Now he’s made it personal and someone needs to stand up to a bully like this. And so far people have let him get away with murder.”
Russell alleged Verstappen had threatened on Saturday to “purposefully crash” into him.
“For me, that is unacceptable and he’s gone beyond the line here and I’m not going to accept it. So somebody’s got to stand up to a guy like this before it gets out of control,” Russell added.
Russell also criticised Verstappen’s treatment of other drivers on track, bringing up incidents such as the Dutchman’s tactics against Lando Norris at this year’s Mexican Grand Prix, for which the champion picked up two penalties, and while battling Lewis Hamilton in the past.
“Whenever anything is not going his way, he lashes out with unnecessary anger and borderline violence,” Russell said.
“That is not a guy who I respect and I wish he would be a better role model.”