Brazilian and Dutch model Kelly Piquet’s parents are also not strangers to F1, let alone her. Her father, Nelson Piquet, and brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., are both F1 racers.
Kelly Piquet, a celebrated figure in Formula 1, comes from a family that has already been involved in motorsport and fashion.
She was born to Nelson Piquet, a racing driver and three-time Formula One World Champion, and Sylvia Tamsma, a Dutch model who has had a successful career in the fashion industry.
However, Sylvia and Nelson have already been separated, and Kelly was primarily raised by her mother single-handedly.
Thus far, the precise details surrounding their separation, including the reason behind their failed marriage, remain unknown.
Born in Germany in 1988, Piquet spent her childhood living with her mom in the South of France before moving to Brazil, where her father is from, at age 12.
Sylvia’s influence on Kelly is evident in her career path, for she followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a model, working with brands like Vogue Netherlands, where she appeared on the cover in January 2023.
Kelly Piquet’s Father, Nelson Piquet, A Formula 1 Racer, Was Tangled In A Controversy Involving Lewis Hamilton!
Nelson Piquet Souto Maior, born on August 17, 1952, in Brazil, is one of Formula 1’s well-known drivers.
Competing from 1978 to 1991, he secured three World Drivers’ Championship titles in 1981, 1983, and 1987.
His 23 Grand Prix victories across 14 seasons established his name in racing. Before launching his F1 career, Piquet’s journey began with karting, where he became the Brazilian national champion in 1971–72.
Later, he grabbed the Formula Vee Brazil championship in 1976 and dominated Formula Three in 1978, breaking records with a record number of wins.
It was in 1979 when Nelson Piquet made his F1 debut with the Ensign team in 1978, and he went on to race for iconic teams like Brabham, Williams, and Benetton.
Despite his significant F1 career, back in 2021, he was caught in a controversy after he used a racial slur against Lewis Hamilton in a podcast, leading to a fine and a ban from the F1 paddock.
During a podcast interview, Piquet discussed a crash between Hamilton and Max Verstappen, Kelly’s partner, at the 2021 British Grand Prix.
In the interview, recorded in Portuguese, Piquet used a word that many consider offensive when referring to Hamilton. Later, another video surfaced where Piquet used more racist and homophobic language about Hamilton.
As a result, Piquet was banned for life from the F1 paddock, and in 2023, a Brazilian court fined him 5 million Brazilian reais for the racist and homophobic comments.
Amid this chaos, Kelly Piquet also faced criticism for liking an Instagram post that defended her father, arguing his comments were misunderstood.
Though she didn’t comment publicly, Kelly supported her father by sharing a Father’s Day tribute to him in 2023.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Before starting her relationship with Max Verstappen, she was dating fellow F1 racer Daniil Kvyat, with whom she welcomed a daughter in 2019.
- Kelly Piquet has several siblings, including Nelson Piquet Jr., who also pursued a career in motorsports.
