Max Verstappen announces pregnancy with Kelly Piquet amid feud with George Russell intensifies

Max Verstappen shares pregnancy news with Kelly Piquet while his feud with George Russell intensifies.

Max Verstappen, the four-time Formula 1 World Champion, has made a significant announcement in his personal life—he and his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, are expecting their first child together. The couple revealed the joyous news on Instagram, with Verstappen sharing a heartwarming photo of him holding Kelly's baby bump and captioning it: “Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way ❤️ We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle 💫.”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Max Verstappen (@maxverstappen1)

The announcement has delighted fans, especially as Kelly's daughter, Penelope (affectionately called "P"), from her previous relationship with ex-F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, is already a familiar face to Verstappen’s followers. Penelope is often seen in Verstappen’s sim-racing streams and has a growing presence in the F1 fan community. The couple’s growing family dynamic has resonated with many fans, adding a personal touch to Verstappen’s already illustrious career.

While this exciting personal news has taken center stage, Verstappen has also been in the headlines for a heated dispute with George Russell ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The tension between the two drivers escalated after Verstappen received a one-place grid penalty at the Qatar GP for allegedly driving too slowly during a cooldown lap. This put him behind Russell, who had criticized Verstappen’s actions during the race.

Verstappen vehemently disagreed with the penalty and accused Russell of trying to manipulate the stewards' decision, claiming that Russell had lied about the situation and exaggerated the danger. Verstappen, who was visibly upset by Russell's behavior, stated that he had lost all respect for the Mercedes driver. The tension reached new heights when Verstappen remarked that Russell’s actions were "unacceptable" and said he had never seen a driver attempt to influence the stewards in such a way​

As Verstappen prepares for the Abu Dhabi GP, both his family news and the ongoing feud with Russell are creating an intense narrative for the final race of the season. With Verstappen wanting to spend more time with his family in the future, this new chapter in his life could impact his focus on the track, even as his rivalry with Russell continues to simmer. Will “Mini Verstappen” carry on the family’s racing legacy, or will the young one take a different path? Only time will tell, but one thing is for sure—Verstappen’s journey is far from over, both on and off the track​