Kelly Piquet, the partner of Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, recently spoken frankly about the challenges of motherhood while Verstappen fulfills his racing obligations. In a recent Instagram post, which attracted a lot of attention, the Brazilian model and influencer shared a humorous reference to the sitcomFriends, in which she illustrated the chaos of taking care of her newborn daughter Lily Verstappen-Piquet. This revelation comes at a time when Lily, born on April 25, 2025, according to a gift from the Automobile Club de Monaco, is becoming increasingly attached to her father, which makes Piquet tasks as a parent even more complex during Verstappens frequent absence.

Piquet, who is already the mother of her five-year-old daughter Penelope from an earlier relationship with Formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat, is no stranger in life with a top athlete. Yet the arrival of Lily, her first child with Verstappen, seems to bring new challenges. While Verstappen travels the world for races, such as the Grand Prix of Monaco recently, Piquet remained at home in Monaco to take care of Lily and Penelope. Her Instagram story, in which she has a sceneFriendsShare Van Phoebe who runs back and forth between different responsibilities such as ‘showering’ and ‘eating’, with the caption ‘help’ and a smiling emoji, reflects the recognizable struggle of balancing motherhood with a partner who is often absent. This message, posted during the race weekend in Monaco, emphasizes how Piquet only takes care of two young children while Verstappen focuses on his career.

According to sources, Lily, who is now a month old, seems to be developing a strong bond with her father. Verstappen, who has already expressed his joy about paternity, missed the Miami Grand Prix media day to be at the birth of Lily. He described the holding of his daughter as a “special feeling” in an interview with ESPN, and noted that his experience as a stepfather of Penelope helped him prepare for this new role. However, now that Formula 1 season is in full swing, with races such as those in Emilia Romagna and Monaco, Verstappen’s obligations often bring him away from home. This leaves Piquet behind to take on the daily care of Lily, who, according to insiders, already shows signs of attachment to her father, which makes it more emotionally and logistically heavier for Piquet.

The Formula 1 world responded with enthusiasm to the arrival of Lily, with congratulations from, among others, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who joked that Lily’s “racing”-originating from both Verstappen and Piquet’s father, three-time world champion Nelson Piquet-would make her a fortuin if she were a fortuin. Yet Piquet remains sober and focuses on her role as a mother. Her Mother’s Day post on 12 May, in which she shared photos of both Penelope and Lily, emphasized her dedication to be a role model for her daughters. She wrote: “I want to stay an example for my girls,” a message that resonated with her followers and the spotlights on her strength as a single parent during Verstappen’s absence.

Despite the glamor of their lives in Monaco, where Piquet and Verstappen live with their daughters and a collection of pets that Verstappen once jokingly called a “zoo”, it is clear that family life is not without challenges. Piquet’s recent posts suggest that she enjoys the small moments, such as a luxury chocolate cake to celebrate Lily’s birth, but also that she is struggling with the reality of Verstappens schedule. While Verstappen continues his struggle for a fifth world title against a strong McLaren team, Piquet remains the backbone of their family, balancing between love, responsibility and the chaos of life with a Formula 1 star. Her openness about these challenges offers a rare glimpse into the personal sacrifices behind the glitter of racing, and emphasizes the power of a family that grows together, even if they are physically separated.