Who is Kelly Piquet?
A model, blogger, columnist, and public relations (PR) executive, Kelly Piquet is perhaps known best for her glamour fashion career, however, she is also part of the social media team of the Formula E (ABB FIA Formula E World Championship) a single-seater motorsport international championship for electric cars.
Kelly came into the spotlight as the girlfriend of the Formula 1 world champion racing driver Max Verstappen, however, her connection with Formula 1 goes back a long way, in fact, even to her birth. Intrigued? Keep reading and you’ll find out what we mean.
Early life, family, and education
Her birth name is Kelly Tamsma Piquet Souto Maior, and she was born under the zodiac sign of Sagittarius on 7 December 1988, which makes her aged 34 as of March 2023). Kelly is the eldest daughter of Nelson Piquet, a famed Formula 1 world champion from Brazil, and his wife Sylvia Tamsma, a former Dutch model. Although Kelly was born in Homburg, Germany, most of her early days she spent in France with her mother, after her parents separated.
she moved to Brazil aged 12, and Kelly lived there for three years with her father and brother before she returned to her mother’s home in France. After a year, Kelly moved to England to study, however, aged 17, she returned to Brazil, where she finished her high school studies.
Upon matriculating in 2006, Kelly moved to the USA and enrolled at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, from which she graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations, political science and economics.
Career
Kelly became interested in fashion during her college days, and took an internship in the area. Kelly worked for Bergdorf Goodman, a luxury department store, in addition to being a stylist co-ordinator for Vogue Latinoamerica, and a columnist for Marie Claire Magazine. She also served at KCD PR Agency, the largest PR fashion agency in the world.
Kelly modeled for Lucas Boccalao and PatBO and was often seen on the catwalk alongside other fashion models. She began working for Formula E in 2015, and is today responsible for its social media coverage.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CcaTGyYsLx2/
Relationship with Max Verstappen
Kelly and her now-partner Max Verstappen began dating in October 2020, however, their relationship became public in January 2021. They’d known each other since 2016 when they met in Monacoi – Kelly’s brother, Nelson Junior, who is also a race driver, introduced them; at that time, Max was just 19 years old, while Kelly was in her early 30s.
Kelly was in a relationship with Russian Formula One driver Daniil Kyvat from 2017 to 2019, and they have a daughter together, Penelope, who was born in July 2019. The two separated a few months after her birth in December of that same year.
Kelly and Max began dating soon afterwards, however, at first they kept their relationship secret. On New Year’s Day in 2021, Max posted a photo of himself and Kelly with a caption saying that he found his love and happiness. After their love story became public, Kelly was seen by his side at every championship race that Max participated in.
In 2022, Kelly opened up about her romance with Max saying that she thinks that their relationship is healthy and full of love, support, and understanding. Kelly added that she appreciates how Max treats her daughter, Penelope. As she put it, the age difference is not a problem for them.
As of March 2023, the couple is still together, and most recently on Valentine’s Day, they went back to Monaco where they first met to celebrate their love. Kelly shared a photo of the two of them snuggled up, and Max commented with three red heart emojis.
Max Verstappen – short bio
Born Max Emilian Verstappen under the zodiac sign of Libra on 30 September 1997, he’s today aged 25. He’s a native of Hasselt, Belgium, but holds Dutch nationality, and competes under the Dutch flag. Although born and raised in Belgium, Max stated that he feels more Dutch since most of his childhood he spent surrounded by Dutch people in Maaseik, a small Belgian town at the Dutch border – he said that he only slept in Belgium, spending all day in the Netherlands.
Max is the son of the former Dutch Formula One driver, Joe Verstappen, and former Belgian karting driver, Sophie Kumpen. The two separated when Max was young, and he lived with his father, while Max’s sister, Victoria, lived with their mother. Max and Victoria have three half-siblings from their father’s side, since he remarried twice.
Max began his racing career competing in the Mini Junior championship, and in 2006 won the Belgian championship, and in the following year the Dutch Minimax Championship. In 2010, he stepped up to international karting, and finished second in KF3, a kart racing class for top drivers aged 11 to 15.
As a race car driver, Max debuted in the non-championship Florida Winter Series, held in the USA in January 2014, finishing first at Palm Beach International Raceway, on the second race weekend. A few weeks later, he won the Homestead-Miami Speedway race – aged 16, Max scored a record ten victories in total.
Very happy with my Quali and to be on Pole here in Melbourne!
Looking forward to tomorrow's race @redbullracing 💪 pic.twitter.com/1NeVSsLwbd
— Max Verstappen (@Max33Verstappen) April 1, 2023
In 2014 aged 17, Max was the youngest person in history to participate in a Formula One race, replacing Jean-Eric Vergne during the first practice session at the Japanese Grand Prix. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team in August 2014.
In the following year, Max became the youngest driver to start a World Championship race, making his Grand Prix debut as a full-time driver at Australian Grand Prix held in Melbourne in March 2015. At the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016, Max became the youngest driver ever to win a Formula One Grand Prix, at 18 years old. In 2021, Max won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and subsequently won the 2021 and 2022 Formula One World Championships driving for Red Bull Racing. He’s set to remain at Red Bull until the 2028 season after he signed a contract extension.
When it comes to his personal life, before he began dating Kelly Piquet, Max was in a long-term relationship with Dilara Sanlik from 2017 through 2020, and she even met his family and spent one Christmas with them. Besides Dilara, Max had encounters with Instagram models Roos Van Der Aa and Joyce Godefridi. He also dated race car drivers Sabre Cook and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinksy.
If you have wondered how rich is the two-time Formula One champion, according to sources as of March 2023, Max has a net worth estimated at over $200 million.
