Max Verstappen’s response when asked if he’ll marry Kelly Piquet before baby is born | F1 | Sport

Max Verstappen has confirmed that while there are no immediate plans for a marriage between himself and partner Kelly Piquet, ‘it will happen soon’. The couple are expecting their first child together in early 2025 after a pregnancy announcement in December.

Verstappen and Piquet have been dating since October 2020 after the Brazilian model split with ex-partner and former F1 star Daniil Kvyat in July 2019. The 36-year-old had a daughter, Penelope, during that relationship, and now she is expecting her second child.

Many have speculated that marriage could be on the horizon for the couple, but Verstappen didn’t give much away when asked by Swiss outlet Blick about how soon a formal union could come. “Not yet, but it will probably happen soon,” he explained.

Public updates on the pregnancy have been few and far between since Verstappen and Piquet announced the news to their fans ahead of the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in December.

However, when Piquet posted to her Instagram account during the festive period, fans received an update via the comments. The Brazilian uploaded a selfie from her winter skiing holiday, attracting intrigue from a follower also going through pregnancy.

They commented: “Not fair how pretty you are!! I’m currently pregnant in my first trimester and looking like I’m dying, and here you are pregnant and glowing and looking absolutely stunning.”

Piquet responded with some words of support and an update on her pregnancy. She replied: “My first trimester was rough! I’m entering my third now! You got this.” This means that Verstappen’s partner is now around 28 weeks pregnant, so under regular childbirth conditions, the couple may get to meet their child as soon as 12 weeks’ time.

Before his first child arrives, Verstappen will get his title defence underway in Melbourne. The Dutchman hopes to emulate Michael Schumacher as he targets a fifth successive Drivers’ Championship crown, although with Ferrari and McLaren the favourites heading into 2025, he has work to do.

“I don’t have a crystal ball, but if we can fix certain weaknesses over the winter, we’ll be back at the top,” Verstappen explained. “But I’m certainly not making a prediction here. Five teams should be fighting at the top.

“The weaknesses have been narrowed down. The necessary balance was often lacking because we simply couldn’t get into the small temperature window. That means you end up wandering around a bit wildly.”