The world of motorsports is celebrating two personal events that have brought together two racing icons: Marc Marquez and Max Verstappen. The Spanish MotoGP rider, currently leading the 2025 championship with Ducati Lenovo, sent a warm congratulatory message to Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen on the birth of his first child with his partner Kelly Piquet. The announcement, shared by Verstappen at the end of April 2025, came at the same time as another significant piece of news: Marquez revealed that he had become the father of a baby girl, born a few days earlier. These moments of personal joy, celebrated by two athletes at the top of their respective disciplines, have warmed the hearts of fans and strengthened the bond between the two champions, both linked to the Red Bull brand and united by a winning mentality.
The birth of Verstappen’s son, nicknamed “Mini Verstappen-Piquet” by the media, took place on May 2, 2025, during a strategic break in the F1 calendar between the Miami and Emilia-Romagna Grands Prix. Kelly Piquet, daughter of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet, shared an image on Instagram, showing off a tiny racing bodysuit with Verstappen’s trademark number 1. The Dutch driver, a four-time world champion, expressed his emotion in an interview with Sky Sport F1, saying: “It’s a special moment. The track is important, but nothing beats this.” The news prompted a wave of well-wishes from colleagues and fans, but Marquez’s message, posted on X, caught particular attention: “Congratulations Max and Kelly! Welcome to the dads club! A new champion has arrived.” The post, accompanied by a baby bottle emoji, garnered thousands of likes, underlining the friendship between the two.
Marquez, for his part, announced the birth of his daughter on April 18, 2025, shortly before the Spanish Grand Prix in Jerez. The news, kept private until his return to the track, was shared with an image of the newborn’s tiny hand clutched to his finger, accompanied by the caption: “My biggest trophy.” Marquez’s wife, Gemma Pinto, gave birth to the baby girl at a clinic in Barcelona, and he dedicated his pole position in Jerez to his family. “Being a father changes everything,” Marquez told DAZN Spain. “I want to win for her, to make her proud.” The coincidence of the two events created a unique moment in motorsport, with fans celebrating the “new generation” of Marquez and Verstappen on platforms like X, where hashtags like #MiniMarquez and #MiniVerstappen went viral.
Marquez and Verstappen’s bond goes beyond public congratulations. Both have served as Red Bull ambassadors, sharing promotional events and a passion for racing. Marquez has often praised Verstappen, calling him “a killer on the track” during a Honda event in 2024, while Verstappen has reciprocated, betting on Marquez’s 2025 MotoGP title: “He’s the best, with the factory Ducati he will be unbeatable.” Their friendship was cemented in 2018, when Marquez tested a Red Bull RB8 at the Red Bull Ring, an experience that introduced him to the world of F1. “Max inspired me with his mentality,” Marquez said at the time. Now, as fathers, they share a new perspective, balancing stellar careers with family responsibilities.
In 2025, both are dominating their respective championships. Verstappen, despite a less competitive Red Bull, took pole at Suzuka and victory in Japan, cementing his status as favourite for a fifth title. Marquez, with 65 MotoGP victories, opened the season with a triumph in Qatar and leads the standings, aiming for a ninth world title. However, fatherhood has added a new dimension to their lives. Verstappen joked about “losing three tenths” due to lack of sleep, but Red Bull consultant Helmut Marko reiterated: “Max will remain the fastest.” Marquez, meanwhile, confessed to finding new motivation in his daughter: “Every race is for her.”
These personal moments have not slowed down the two champions, but have made them more human in the eyes of the fans. The images of Verstappen with his son and Marquez with his daughter, shared discreetly, have shown a vulnerable side of two “warriors” of the track. As the F1 and MotoGP circus prepares for the next races, the motorsport world celebrates not only their victories, but also their entry into the “dads club,” an achievement that, as Marquez said, “is worth more than any trophy.”
