Max Verstappen makes his feelings known about becoming a parent with partner Kelly Piquet

Max Verstappen is going to be a father soon, as his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, announced her pregnancy earlier this month. The four-time world champion said that having a baby of your own is a different challenge, but he is excited to embrace it.

The Dutch driver has been dating Kelly Piquet, the 36-year-old model from Brazil, since 2020. After four years of courtship, the couple announced during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that they will be welcoming their first child together in 2025.

In a recent interview with Talking Bull, Verstappen opened up on his feelings about becoming a parent. He said that seeing Penelope grow, he has had some sort of training. However, parenting his own child will be a different experience, and he is ready to embrace it.

"Luckily I did get a little bit of training with Penelope, seeing her grow up already for four years which has been also really nice. But for sure when it's fully your own it's gonna be a different challenge but I’m looking forward to it," Verstappen said.

Penelope is Kelly Piquet's first child from her previous relationship with former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat. She gave birth to her in 2019 and split from Daniil a year later. The model then met Verstappen, and the couple has been together since.

Max Verstappen has an equally close bond with Penelope. She accompanies him on race weekends, and the family recently celebrated Christmas together. When the Dutchman met Kelly, Penelope was about a year old. Hence, he has seen her grow in front of his eyes.

Meanwhile, Verstappen had a solid season in 2024. He struggled to stay dominant in the second half of the season, largely due to pressure from McLaren. However, with consistent performance, the Dutch driver was able to defend his championship title for the fourth time in a row.

---

Max Verstappen calls himself a 'bonus dad'

Max Verstappen with Penelope (Image Source: Getty)

Kelly Piquet's pregnancy announcement with Max Verstappen drew a heartwarming reaction from fans. Many congratulated the 27-year-old for embracing parenthood for the first time. However, the Dutchman already sees himself as a bonus dad, as he is helping raise Kelly Piquet's daughter Penelope.

"Of course I'm already kind of a bonus dad. But I'm still very excited!" Verstappen said.

Since Kelly and Verstappen started dating, she and her daughter moved in with him in Monaco. Despite the nine-year age gap, the power couple has stood by each other through thick and thin.

Meanwhile, in 2025, Verstappen will face renewed pressure. With Red Bull Racing, he will race with a new teammate in Liam Lawson since Sergio Perez was shown the exit door following an underwhelming season. On the other hand, in his personal life, the four-time world champion will be tasked with nurturing his newborn baby and adjusting to the role of being a father.