Max Verstappen, who is now 25 years old, has been dating Kelly Piquet who is almost 10 years older than him for about 2 years now. The couple started dating publicly in 2021, but how long was the relationship going on behind the scenes has been left to speculation. The couple has made many public appearances during race weekends, awards show and other events as well.
Kelly Piquet has a daughter from a previous relationship with another Formula 1 driver, Daniil Kvyat. Kelly named her daughter Penelope who was born in 2019. Penelope has had a positive impact on Max Verstappen’s character.
What did Sophie Kumpen say about Max Verstappen’s relationship?
Sophie Kumpen and the rest of Verstappen’s family have been very welcoming toward Kelly Piquet. They have spent time together as a family. Max Verstappen has also spent a lot of time with Kelly’s daughter, Penelope.
In an interview, Max’s mother Sophie Kumpen said: “Kelly, of course, is a bit older, she has a little child. They have created some form of a little family. I think that Max maybe missed that when he was young. Such stability has also helped him as he knows someone is waiting for him at home.”
Kelly Piquet and her daughter have given Max Verstappen a stable personal life so he can concentrate on his performance on the track. Kelly Piquet is the daughter of Formula 1 Champion, Nelson Piquet. As she also is from a racing family, she understands the pressures Max goes through every single day. This has helped the two of them maintain a great balance in their relationship.
Max is now helping Kelly give Penelope the childhood he did not have. Not that Max regrets not having a normal childhood. Max was recently seen during a live stream with Penelope hugging and kissing him.
Does Max Verstappen regret not having a normal childhood?
While growing up, Max Verstappen’s childhood was unlike any other. He was born into a racing family with his father Jos Verstappen having raced in Formula 1 and his mother Sophie Kumpen involved in karting. This made Max Verstappen competitive. But this meant that Max did not have the time for simple things like going on vacations, the movies, or just hanging out with friends.
Jos Verstappen has made it very clear to Max that 2nd place is not acceptable. Jos once said that “second place is the first loser”. These statements made Max the competitor that we see today.
Today, Max Verstappen is known as one of the best drivers on the grid. He has already achieved 2 WDCs and is on his way to his 3rd. Although the parenting style of Jos Verstappen may seem controversial, it seemed to have worked for his son Max Verstappen.