The Formula 1 world is again under the spell of Max Verstappen, but this time not because of its performance on the circuit. The four -time world champion and his partner, Kelly Piquet, recently welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Lily. On May 2, 2025, the couple announced her birth through a joint Instagram post, with the message: “Welcome to the world, dear Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever-you are our biggest gift. We love you so much.” The post, accompanied by a moving black and white photo of Lily’s hand that held a finger of her parent, unleashed a wave of congratulations from fans, colleagues and even Red Bull team boss Christian Horner. Verstappen recently shared a new photo of Lily on social media, comparing her appearance with what he himself looked like as a child, evoked a flood of reactions from fans who called the similarity “creepy”.
The photo, shared on August 14, 2025 via Verstappen’s Instagram Stories, showed a smiling Lily, whose face, according to fans, has a striking similarity with Max’s baby photos. “She is literally a copy of Max,” wrote an enthusiastic fan on X, while another noticed: “She has Max” smile! ” The comparison was further fueled when Verstappen himself placed a Throwback photo of himself as a toddler next to Lily’s, with a wink: “Mini-me, right?” This rare insight into his private life is remarkable, given that Verstappen’s known restraint to sharing personal details. In an interview withGPBlogHe emphasized that he would rather keep Lily out of the spotlights of Formula 1 paddock, and said: “I am not in a hurry to take her to a race. At home it is already a zoo!” His humor and openness about his new role as father made him even more loved by fans.
Verstappen and Piquet, who have been together since 2020, welcomed Lily in the spring, just before the Miami Grand Prix. Verstappen then missed the Mediadag to be at Piquet, a choice that was approved by Red Bull under “Exceptional circumstances,” as reported byGrandprix247. The arrival of Lily marks a new phase in Verstappen’s life, which he combines with a challenging Formula 1 season. Despite his impressive track record, he is currently third in the championship, behind McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris, with only two victories this year. Yet his home situation seems to motivate him. In a recent post on X by @gpblog_com, it was suggested that Lily is a source of comfort after disappointing racing weekends: “How #lily Verstappen helps #maxver stepping during the brutal 2025 #F1 season.”
Kelly Piquet, daughter of triple world champion Nelson Piquet, has also shared her love for Lily via social media. On June 9, 2025, she posted a series of photos made by photographer Anette Cook, on which she held Lily in her arms. She spoke frankly about the challenges of motherhood, especially about the fear of divorce when she briefly left Lily for a conference in Lisbon. “It was hard to leave my baby a month old just a few hours,” she wrote on Instagram, as quoted byGPFans. Piquet’s earlier daughter, Penelope, from her relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat, is also part of their family, and recent holiday photos from Sardinia showed the happy family together.
The public fascination for Lily is partly fed by her impressive racing genes: her father is an F1 legend, her grandfathers were successful drivers, and her grandmother of Verstappen’s side was a kart champion. Nevertheless, Verstappen remains determined to offer his daughter a normal youth away from the spotlight. “She’s a good sleeper,” he joked in an interview withGPBlog, Referring to how Lily keeps him fresh for races such as the upcoming Grand Prix of Monaco. While fans yearn for more photos and stories, it remains clear that Verstappen and Piquet cherish their privacy, but the shared moments with Lily have a warm, human side of the F1 star who has conquered the hearts of many.
