Max Verstappen‘s partner Kelly Piquet has returned to social media with a fresh series of images capturing moments with the couple’s daughter Lily along Brazil’s coastline. The Brazilian influencer, who has maintained a quieter online presence in recent months, has increasingly shared glimpses into the family’s off-season activities as the four-time world champion enjoys his winter break.
Family time during Formula 1’s winter pause
Piquet and Verstappen have been together since 2020, building a family that now includes Penelope, Piquet’s daughter from a previous relationship, and their own daughter Lily, who was born in early 2024. The couple has historically balanced privacy with selective social media sharing, offering fans occasional windows into their life away from the intense scrutiny of the Formula 1 paddock.
The latest Instagram post showcases Piquet and Lily enjoying Brazil’s coastal scenery, with the pair photographed against the backdrop of the country’s distinctive waters. Piquet has been particularly active on social media throughout December and January, documenting the family’s holiday period while Verstappen takes advantage of the extended break before pre-season testing begins.
Regular paddock presence throughout the season
Throughout the 2024 championship campaign, Piquet established herself as one of Verstappen’s most consistent supporters at race weekends. Her attendance at grands prix has become more frequent in recent seasons, often appearing in the Red Bull Racing garage during key moments of the Dutchman’s record-breaking fourth title run.
The relationship between Formula 1’s dominant driver and the Brazilian model has evolved significantly since its early stages. Piquet, daughter of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, brings her own motorsport heritage to the partnership, understanding the unique pressures and demands of life at the pinnacle of racing.
Social media activity from both partners remains carefully curated, with images of young Lily appearing only sporadically. The latest post marks one of the few occasions where the child features prominently, reflecting the couple’s approach to maintaining boundaries around their family life despite Verstappen’s global profile.
Return to action approaching for Red Bull star
The relaxed family scenes from Brazil stand in sharp contrast to what awaits Verstappen in the coming weeks. Pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is scheduled to commence on 26 January, marking the beginning of preparations for the 2025 campaign. The defending champion will be working with new teammate Liam Lawson following Sergio Pérez’s departure from the team.
Red Bull Racing faces fresh challenges this season, with Ferrari’s acquisition of Lewis Hamilton and McLaren’s continued development threatening to disrupt the Austrian team’s recent dominance. Verstappen secured his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship in 2024, but the final portion of that season revealed vulnerabilities in Red Bull’s package that rival teams successfully exploited.
The winter break represents one of the few extended periods where Verstappen can step away from the relentless cycle of race weekends, simulator work, and sponsor obligations that define the modern Formula 1 calendar. His choice to spend this time in Brazil with Piquet’s family underscores the importance of these relationships in providing balance amid the sport’s intensity.
What this means going forward
As the 2025 season approaches, expect Piquet’s paddock presence to continue at select races throughout the calendar. The balance between family commitments—particularly with a young child—and supporting Verstappen’s title defence will likely shape her attendance patterns across the 24-race schedule. The Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, scheduled for November, will almost certainly see the family in attendance given Piquet’s deep connections to her home country and the circuit where her father claimed multiple victories during his own championship-winning career.
