Max Verstappen in F1
Verstappen made his F1 debut in 2015 at the age of 17 with the then Toro Rosso. In 2016, on the advice of Helmut Marko, he was moved to sister team Red Bull Racing. His first race with the team, the Spanish Grand Prix, proved to be a masterstroke. Verstappen won the race, becoming the youngest race winner ever, at just 18 years and 228 days old.
Max Verstappen Four-Time World Champion
In 2021, Max Verstappen secured his first World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, making him the first Dutch driver ever to win an F1 World Championship. In 2022, he claimed his second World Title during the Japanese Grand Prix. 2023 was a year of total dominance for the Red Bull driver. He won 19 out of 22 races and secured his third World Championship with six races to go, equaling Michael Schumacher's 2002 record.
Where Verstappen was challenged by Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc in the early races of 2022, that was not the case in the 2023 F1 season. Red Bull Racing put together an extremely dominant car: the RB19, designed by Adrian Newey. This nearly unbeatable combination of driver, car, and team led to 19 wins for Verstappen. The Dutchman also broke an impressive record: at the Italian Grand Prix, he secured his tenth consecutive win, overtaking Sebastian Vettel’s record.
Verstappen secured his third World Championship during the sprint race in Qatar, with six races to go. Red Bull Racing won the Constructors' Championship in Japan, where Verstappen also won the race. He continued his winning streak with victories in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Las Vegas, and Abu Dhabi. At no point during the rest of the season did Verstappen allow a competitor to challenge him. He also broke his own record for the most wins in a single season, winning 19 races, surpassing the 15 wins he achieved in 2022.
Max Verstappen in 2024
Together with Red Bull Racing, Verstappen was the clear favorite for the World Title in 2024. The performance in 2023 – where Red Bull won 21 out of 22 races – would always be hard to top, but expectations were high. However, in 2024, dominance was no longer the case. Verstappen had already expressed before the start of the season that the RB20 didn't feel right, but because he continued to win, no immediate changes were made. It wasn’t until after the Miami Grand Prix that it became clear McLaren, with a strong upgrade package, had surpassed Red Bull in terms of performance. At the same time, the Austrian team began facing more issues, which were mainly related to balance.
Max Verstappen Champion in Las Vegas
The Hungarian Grand Prix was one of Red Bull's low points in 2024, but after the Italian GP in Monza, the team finally admitted they had to go back to the drawing board. In Austin, updates were introduced that proved crucial for the steps the Austrian team took for the rest of the year. Verstappen won in Brazil from P17 in the rain, which many considered his best victory ever. It was in Interlagos where he dealt the final blow to Lando Norris, who started from pole position but only finished P6. The following race, in Las Vegas, Verstappen was on track for a podium finish but had to admit tire degradation to Mercedes and Ferrari. Verstappen finished fifth but ahead of Lando Norris, securing his fourth World Championship.
Max Verstappen's community service Penalty
A widely discussed moment for Verstappen was the community service penalty imposed by the FIA after the Singapore Grand Prix. Shortly after president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced a stricter approach to swearing, the Dutchman used the word ‘fucked’ during a press conference. The stewards, including the now-dismissed Johnny Herbert, gave Verstappen a community service penalty. This led the Red Bull driver to boycott official FIA press moments, giving only brief answers, while answering questions from journalists in full outside the press conference rooms. Later, the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) also sent an official letter to the FIA and chairman Ben Sulayem. However, Ben Sulayem paid no attention to it and even introduced a completely new penalty system for so-called misconduct for the 2025 season.
Eventually, Verstappen reached an agreement with Ben Sulayem to carry out the community service penalty. He did this in Rwanda, during the same weekend he received his World Title at the FIA Gala. The community service involved guiding and inspiring children through a grassroots development program run by the Rwanda Automobile Club. He was also shown a race car that was being built in Rwanda.
Max Verstappen to Mercedes?
After Lewis Hamilton's announced departure to Ferrari, Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suddenly had to search for a replacement for the seven-time World Champion in 2024. He openly expressed his interest in Verstappen and hinted at a possible collaboration, much to the frustration of Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. The Austrian took advantage of the unrest at Red Bull, both around team principal Horner and the departing staff, as well as the disappointing performance of the RB20. Verstappen decided to stay loyal to Red Bull, and Wolff ceased his efforts in the summer. He then turned his attention to young Andrea Kimi Antonelli.
Kelly Piquet, Max Verstappen’s Girlfriend
Kelly Piquet is Max Verstappen’s girlfriend and the daughter of three-time F1 World Champion Nelson Piquet. She was born on December 7, 1988, in Homburg, Germany, but has Brazilian nationality. She has a daughter, Penelope, with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. Verstappen has a close bond with her as a ‘bonus father’. Kelly is often spotted alongside Verstappen during race weekends. She works as a model, influencer, and columnist, with a strong presence on social media.
Is Max Verstappen Married?
Max Verstappen and his girlfriend Kelly Piquet have been together for over four years, but they are not married. The Red Bull Racing driver has not yet proposed, so they are also not engaged. A wedding is not currently planned, although Verstappen has not ruled out proposing in the future.
At the end of December, there were images of Verstappen and his girlfriend attending the wedding of her brother, Nelson Piquet Jr. The fact that Kelly failed to catch the bouquet – which traditionally signifies the next person to get married – led to amusement for Verstappen. After the wedding, the Dutchman stayed in Brazil to spend the Christmas holidays with his in-laws, including Kelly’s father, F1 legend Nelson Piquet.
Do Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet Live Together?
Yes, Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet live together in Monaco. Kelly’s daughter Penelope also lives with the couple, who have been together since 2020. The family has three cats: Jimmy, Sassy, and Donatello, and a dog: a dachshund named Nino.
Max Verstappen to Become a Father
Max Verstappen does not have children yet but will become a father in 2025. In December 2024, he and Kelly announced they were expecting their first child together. Verstappen also has a close relationship with Kelly’s daughter, Penelope. He is the bonus father to ‘P’, as he affectionately calls her. She, in turn, often calls Verstappen ‘Maxie’ or ‘Mashy’.
Max Verstappen Age, Nationality, and Height
Verstappen was born on September 30, 1997, in Hasselt. He is 27 years old and will celebrate his 28th birthday on September 30, 2025. Verstappen is 1.81 meters tall and weighs 72 kilograms. Despite holding both Dutch and Belgian nationalities, Verstappen identifies himself primarily as Dutch and races under the Dutch flag in Formula 1.
Max Verstappen’s Salary and Net Worth
Verstappen is one of the highest-paid F1 drivers on the grid. In 2023, he was by far the best-paid driver in Formula 1, with an annual salary of almost 60 million euros. This secured the Dutchman the 22nd spot on Forbes' list of the highest-paid athletes in the world. Verstappen’s net worth in 2024 is estimated by the Quote 500 at around 210 million euros, ranking him 322nd on the list.
Max Verstappen’s Private Jet
Since 2020, Max Verstappen has been the proud owner of a private jet. He purchased a Falcon 900EX, which he customized in colors of his choice: anthracite and orange, with his own logo, a lion. In early 2025, the four-time World Champion decided it was time for an upgrade. He traded in his first jet for a Dassault Falcon 8X, estimated to be worth between 50 and 55 million euros. This aircraft can cover a much greater distance without needing to stop for refueling: it can travel approximately 12,000 kilometers without a stop, compared to 7,800 kilometers with his first jet. Verstappen chose the same livery as his first private jet: anthracite with orange, with the lion logo – also in orange – at the tail. He registered the aircraft under the name PH-UTL, an abbreviation of his personal slogan: Unleash the Lion.
Max Verstappen Buys a Luxury Yacht
His new private jet is not the only luxury purchase Verstappen made after winning his fourth World Championship. Since early 2025, he is also the owner of a luxury yacht, a Super Sport 33 from the Mangusta Series. His superyacht is worth around 35 million euros and is docked in the harbor of Monaco. Verstappen’s yacht has everything a top-class yacht should have: a luxurious lounge area, two spacious bedrooms, a whirlpool, and a pool. The yacht has a maximum speed of 55 knots, which is nearly 100 kilometers per hour.
Max Verstappen in 2025
In 2025, Verstappen will continue to drive for Red Bull Racing. At that point, he is expected to be the top contender for the title once again, barring any major changes in the team’s performance or competition. His work ethic, determination, and consistency have made him one of the greatest drivers in F1 history.
