Kelly Piquet: The Remarkable Woman Beyond the F1 Paddock
How an international childhood, fashion career and motorsport background shaped her public life
Introduction
Kelly Piquet is a Brazilian-Dutch model, fashion professional, columnist and former motorsport communications worker. She is also recognised as the daughter of three-time Formula One world champion Nelson Piquet and the longtime partner of Max Verstappen.
She was born in Germany in 1988 and grew up across several countries. Before becoming a familiar face at Formula One events, she studied international relations and worked behind the scenes in fashion, public relations and digital media.
Her public story is therefore about more than a famous surname or relationship. It connects fashion, education, motherhood, international culture and motorsport.
Quick Profile
| Detail | Verified information |
|---|---|
| Full publicly listed name | Kelly Tamsma Piquet Souto Maior |
| Public name | Kelly Piquet |
| Date of birth | 7 December 1988 |
| Age | 37 years old as of July 2026 |
| Birthplace | Homburg, Germany |
| Background | Brazilian and Dutch |
| Profession | Model, columnist, content creator and PR professional |
| Education | International Relations at Marymount Manhattan College |
| Father | Nelson Piquet |
| Mother | Sylvia Tamsma |
| Partner | Max Verstappen |
| Children | Two daughters, Penelope and Lily |
| Known for | Fashion, Formula E media work and Formula One family connections |
| Current public base | Monaco |
Her reported birth date is 7 December 1988, making her 37 years old in July 2026. Reputable profiles describe her as Brazilian-Dutch because her father is Brazilian and her mother is Dutch.
Who Is Kelly Piquet?
She is an international model and media professional with close connections to the Formula One world.
Many people first learned her name through her father, Nelson Piquet, or her relationship with Verstappen. However, she had already developed experience in fashion, magazine work and motorsport communications before becoming one of the paddock’s most recognised public figures.
She studied international relations in New York and worked in several parts of the fashion industry. These roles included editorial assistance, buying, public relations, modelling and magazine writing.
Readers interested in another model who moved into media can explore the career of Rosie Tapner, who developed from international fashion modelling into sports broadcasting.
Kelly Piquet’s Age
She was born on 7 December 1988.
This means:
- She is 37 years old as of July 2026.
- She will turn 38 on 7 December 2026.
- Her zodiac sign is Sagittarius.
Some websites have published conflicting or unsupported birth information. However, 1988 is the year consistently supported by major profiles, contemporary age references and established motorsport publications.
Nationality and Family Background
She is commonly described as Brazilian-Dutch.
Her father, Nelson Piquet, is Brazilian. Her mother, Sylvia Tamsma, is Dutch and previously worked as a model.
Being born in Germany does not automatically establish German nationality. Reliable public profiles usually describe her through her Brazilian and Dutch family heritage rather than presenting her as German.
Her connection with Brazil also places her within a celebrated national racing tradition. Another major figure from that tradition is former Formula One driver Rubens Barrichello.
Childhood Across Several Countries
Her early life was highly international.
She spent much of her childhood in the South of France with her mother. At around 12 years old, she moved to Brazil, where her father lived.
She remained in Brazil until approximately the age of 15. She then returned to France before moving to England for boarding school.
At 17, she went back to Brazil to complete her final school year at the American School of Brasília. After finishing school, she moved to New York City for university.
This childhood exposed her to several cultures, languages and education systems. It later helped her work comfortably across international fashion, media and sporting environments.
Education
She attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.
Her subject was international relations, with studies connected to political science and economics. This academic background is different from the career for which she is now best known.
While living in New York, she also gained practical fashion experience. That work encouraged her to develop a career involving styling, buying, public relations and modelling.
Her education shows that her interests were not limited to fashion or racing. She built a broader understanding of politics, economics and international affairs.
Kelly Piquet’s Parents
Nelson Piquet
Her father is one of Brazil’s most successful racing drivers.
Nelson Piquet won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship three times:
- 1981
- 1983
- 1987
Growing up in his family gave Kelly an early understanding of professional motorsport, including its pressure, travel demands and risks.
Sylvia Tamsma
Her mother is Dutch former model Sylvia Tamsma.
Kelly followed part of her mother’s professional path by entering fashion and modelling. Her Vogue Netherlands cover was particularly meaningful because it connected her Dutch maternal heritage with a shoot produced in Brazil.
Brothers and Motorsport Family
Her brother Nelson Piquet Jr. also became a professional racing driver.
He competed in Formula One and later became the first Formula E drivers’ champion. Other members of the wider Piquet family have also participated in professional motorsport.
She has explained that she witnessed the difficult and successful periods of her brother’s racing career. This experience helped her understand the emotional pressure faced by drivers and their families.
The story of Oliver Norris offers another example of how members of a racing family can develop careers both inside and outside competitive motorsport.
Early Fashion Career
She began gaining fashion experience while studying in New York.
Her reported early roles included:
- Working as a stylist assistant at Vogue Latin America
- Gaining buying experience at Bergdorf Goodman
- Working in fashion public relations
- Contributing to Marie Claire Brazil
- Taking part in modelling assignments
These positions allowed her to understand the fashion industry from several directions. She worked behind the scenes before becoming widely recognised in front of the camera.
The PEOPLE profile of Kelly Piquet confirms her education, early fashion roles, modelling work, family background and relationship history.
Modelling Career
She followed her mother into modelling and worked with fashion and lifestyle brands.
Published profiles have connected her with names including:
- PatBO
- Pepe Jeans
- Louis Vuitton
- Lucas Boccalão
She has also attended international fashion shows, brand launches and editorial events.
Her modelling profile grew significantly after she appeared on the January/February 2023 cover of Vogue Netherlands. The accompanying editorial was photographed in Brazil and extended across more than 30 pages.
She described the Vogue cover as an important personal breakthrough.
Vogue Netherlands Cover
The Vogue Netherlands cover was one of the clearest milestones in her independent career.
It connected several parts of her identity:
- Her Dutch heritage through her mother
- Her Brazilian family background
- Her modelling work
- Her experience of growing up around racing
In the accompanying interview, she spoke about maintaining her own identity while supporting a partner working in Formula One.
She explained that she wanted to wake up feeling that she was achieving something herself. This statement became an important part of how she presented her personal values and professional independence.
Work With Formula E
She also worked behind the scenes in electric motorsport.
In the mid-2010s, she became involved with social-media coverage and communications for the FIA Formula E Championship.
The role combined two parts of her background:
- Knowledge of motorsport
- Experience in public relations and digital media
She did not compete as a racing driver. Her Formula E responsibilities were related to media, communications and online content.
Relationship With Max Verstappen
She has been in a relationship with Max Verstappen since 2020.
The couple publicly confirmed their relationship through Instagram posts on 1 January 2021. She has since attended many Formula One races, celebrations and official events with him.
As of July 2026, reputable reporting continues to describe them as longtime partners or boyfriend and girlfriend. No verified public marriage announcement has been made.
They live in Monaco and share a family life away from the racing schedule.
Readers following modern Formula One may also recognise Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, another leading racing figure closely connected with Monaco.
Kelly Piquet’s Children
She is the mother of two daughters.
Penelope
Her first daughter, Penelope, was born in July 2019.
Penelope’s father is former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat. Piquet and Kvyat were in a publicly reported relationship at the time of their daughter’s birth.
She has spoken warmly about motherhood and has described Penelope as an important source of happiness in her life.
Lily
She and Verstappen welcomed their first child together in 2025.
The couple announced the arrival of their daughter Lily on 2 May 2025. Lily is Piquet’s second daughter and Verstappen’s first biological child.
The official Formula One announcement confirmed Lily’s arrival before the 2025 Miami Grand Prix.
Motherhood and Family Life
Motherhood is now a major part of her public life.
Her social-media posts often include family occasions, travel, fashion and selected moments from Formula One weekends. However, she does not publicly document every part of her children’s lives.
Verstappen said in a May 2026 interview that becoming a father changed his priorities and made time at home more valuable. He continued to describe Piquet as his longtime girlfriend.
Public Image
Her public image combines:
- Fashion
- International travel
- Motherhood
- Formula One culture
- Luxury events
- Personal independence
She is regularly photographed in the Formula One paddock, but her interviews show that she does not want her complete identity to depend on her partner’s career.
She is also more professionally experienced than the simple label “Formula One girlfriend” suggests. Her background includes university education, fashion buying, editorial work, PR, magazine writing, modelling and Formula E communications.
Current Work in 2026
As of July 2026, her visible professional activity remains focused on:
- Modelling
- Fashion appearances
- Editorial work
- Lifestyle content
- Selected brand collaborations
- Formula One events
- Family-related social media
Her public Instagram account has an audience of around 2.5 million followers, although social-media totals can change every day.
She continues to appear at international fashion and motorsport events while raising Penelope and Lily.
Why Is Kelly Piquet Famous?
She is famous for several connected reasons:
- She is the daughter of three-time Formula One champion Nelson Piquet.
- She is the partner of Formula One champion Max Verstappen.
- She worked in fashion and public relations.
- She appeared on the cover of Vogue Netherlands.
- She worked on social-media coverage for Formula E.
- She has developed a large international social-media audience.
- She belongs to one of motorsport’s best-known families.
- She is recognised for her fashion appearances at major racing events.
Her public life also shares themes with other Formula One family stories, including the profile of Beverley Allen, whose life became connected with Red Bull Racing through Christian Horner.
Interesting Facts
- Her full publicly listed name is Kelly Tamsma Piquet Souto Maior.
- She was born in Germany but is commonly described as Brazilian-Dutch.
- She spent parts of her childhood in France, Brazil and England.
- She studied international relations rather than fashion.
- She worked behind the scenes at Vogue Latin America and Bergdorf Goodman.
- She became involved with Formula E social-media coverage.
- Her mother was also a model.
- Her father won three Formula One world championships.
- Her brother Nelson Piquet Jr. competed in Formula One.
- She is a model and communications professional, not a racing driver.
- She has two daughters named Penelope and Lily.
- Her Vogue Netherlands cover was photographed in Brazil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kelly Piquet?
She is a Brazilian-Dutch model, columnist, content creator and public-relations professional. She is also the daughter of Nelson Piquet and the partner of Max Verstappen.
How old is Kelly Piquet?
She is 37 years old as of July 2026.
When was Kelly Piquet born?
She was born on 7 December 1988.
Where was Kelly Piquet born?
She was born in Homburg, Germany.
What is Kelly Piquet’s nationality?
She is commonly described as Brazilian-Dutch because her father is Brazilian and her mother is Dutch.
What is Kelly Piquet’s family background?
She comes from an international motorsport and fashion family. Her father is former Formula One champion Nelson Piquet, while her mother Sylvia Tamsma is a Dutch former model.
What did Kelly Piquet study?
She studied international relations at Marymount Manhattan College in New York City.
What does Kelly Piquet do?
She works in modelling, fashion, lifestyle content and public relations. She previously worked in Formula E communications.
Who is Kelly Piquet’s partner?
Her partner is Formula One driver Max Verstappen. They have been together publicly since 2020.
Is Kelly Piquet married?
No verified public announcement has confirmed that she and Verstappen are married. Current reputable coverage describes them as longtime partners.
How many children does Kelly Piquet have?
She has two daughters, Penelope and Lily.
Who is Penelope’s father?
Penelope’s father is former Formula One driver Daniil Kvyat.
When was Lily born?
Piquet and Verstappen publicly announced Lily’s arrival on 2 May 2025.
Is Kelly Piquet a racing driver?
No. She worked in motorsport communications but did not build a career as a competitive racing driver.
Why is Kelly Piquet famous?
She is known for her fashion career, Vogue Netherlands cover, Formula E work, racing-family background and relationship with Verstappen.
Conclusion
Kelly Piquet has built a public identity connecting fashion, communications, motherhood and Formula One.
She grew up across several countries, studied international relations in New York and gained practical experience in magazine publishing, fashion buying, public relations and modelling.
Her family name and relationship brought greater public attention, but they do not tell her complete story. Her Vogue cover, Formula E work and fashion career show that she has also created an independent professional path.
As of July 2026, she remains active in fashion and lifestyle media while raising her two daughters and supporting her family.
