Formula 1 fans were sent into a frenzy this weekend after a series of photos surfaced showing Red Bull’s three-time World Champion Max Verstappen in what some called a “suspiciously close” moment with a female Red Bull staff member during post-race celebrations at the Chinese Grand Prix.
The internet spiraled into speculation, with some fans jumping to conclusions about the nature of Verstappen’s relationship with longtime girlfriend Kelly Piquet.
But Piquet has broken her silence.
“It’s not what it looks like,” the Brazilian model and daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet said in an Instagram Story posted late Sunday night. “People are always quick to assume the worst. Max and I are stronger than ever.”
She went on to call the incident “completely harmless,” revealing that the woman in question is a longtime friend and part of Max’s inner circle. “She’s practically family,” Piquet added, brushing off the rumors with grace.
Still, the F1 world remains divided. Some fans have rallied behind the couple, praising Piquet for addressing the drama head-on, while others continue to speculate about Verstappen’s behavior.
Red Bull Racing has declined to comment, but insiders suggest the team is “unamused” by the unnecessary distraction during a critical phase of the championship season.
Verstappen, known for keeping his private life low-key, posted a single photo to his Instagram today—a black-and-white shot of him and Kelly laughing on the yacht in Monaco with the caption: “Let them talk.”
