Kelly Piquet has sparked excitement among Formula 1 fans after sharing a throwback to the first time she met Max Verstappen. The moment took place exactly ten years ago during the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix weekend.
The Brazilian model and daughter of former F1 champion Nelson Piquet joined the viral “2026 is the new 2016” trend on Instagram. Her post featured photos from a group dinner in Monaco organized by her brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., where she and Verstappen first crossed paths.
The final image in the post showed an 18-year-old Verstappen, which quickly caught fans’ attention. In her caption, Piquet revealed that Verstappen told her the next day that she was “the love of his life,” a comment that gained new meaning years later.
Piquet added that while nothing romantic happened that night, she felt a sense of connection. She noted that it would take another decade for their lives to fully come together.
The post also reopened discussions about the couple’s age gap. In 2016, Piquet was 27, while Verstappen was 18, which led to mixed reactions in the comments.
Piquet responded by clarifying that their relationship did not begin until late 2020. She explained that both were in other relationships at the time and only went public as a couple on New Year’s Day in 2021.
The anniversary comes during a happy chapter for the couple. In April 2025, they welcomed their first child together, a daughter named Lily.
Lily joined Piquet’s older daughter, Penelope, forming a close family often seen around the Formula 1 paddock. Verstappen has said fatherhood has changed his outlook as he prepares for the 2026 season.
As life in Monaco continues, the couple appears focused on balancing racing demands with family life, marking a decade since their story quietly began.
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