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Verstappen's Crash & Love Life: Age Gap Sparks Debate
8 Mar
Summary
- Max Verstappen experienced a crash during qualifying for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix.
- Kelly Piquet, Max's partner, is nine years his senior and a mother of two.
- Kelly's father and brother are both former F1 racers.
Max Verstappen is currently facing scrutiny following a significant crash during the qualifying race for the 2026 Australian Grand Prix, necessitating a medical evaluation of his hands. The incident has brought his personal life into focus, particularly his relationship with Kelly Piquet.
Kelly Piquet, a 37-year-old German-born model, is the daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet and sister to former racer Nelson Piquet Jr. Before her relationship with Verstappen, she was with driver Daniil Kvyat, with whom she has a daughter, Penelope. Kelly and Max welcomed their daughter, Lily, in 2025. The couple reportedly met in 2016, with Verstappen expressing his feelings shortly after, and they began dating in 2020.
The nine-year age difference between Kelly and Max, with her being 37 and him 28, has become a talking point. While some fans have trolled Kelly due to this gap, she has publicly clarified that nothing romantic occurred between them in 2016 when Verstappen was 19. Despite the age difference, their relationship appears strong, with Kelly often seen supporting Max at his races.
