Kelly Piquet’s Vogue front page sparks backlash from female motorsport fans

A fresh edition of Vogue featuring Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet has sparked backlash debate amongst motorsport fans.

A fresh edition of Vogue featuring Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet has sparked fierce debate amongst motorsport fans.

Piquet, daughter of recently under-fire F1 great Nelson Piquet, featured on the front page with her face behind a racing helmet.

Piquet and Verstappen have been an item since 2020, after she left former F1 star and father of her child Daniil Kyvat.

Piquet was photographed posing in full drivers’ kit for a Dutch edition of the popular magazine. She spoke on how she manages to let Verstappen — a two time world champion — carry on with his busy schedule while achieving her own career goals.

“Ultimately, this is Max‘s job. Would you normally bring your girlfriend or partner to the office?” she said.

“I want to wake up every day with the feeling: today I am going to achieve something – otherwise you will lose your strength, your energy, your light. I am a happy and grateful person.”

A fresh edition of Vogue featuring Max Verstappen’s girlfriend Kelly Piquet has sparked fierce debate amongst motorsport fans.

However, her front page spread appears to have angered a few fans online.

The group Females in Motorsport criticised the choice to use the girlfriend of the F1 world champion as an icon of females in racing, arguing other up-and-coming drivers should receive more attention.

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen (C) hugs his girlfriend Kelly Piquet as the Red Bull Racing team celebrates winning the Constructors title.

“Seeing Kelly Piquet on the cover of Vogue representing women in motorsport is disappointing,” the group wrote.

“There are so many women out there who actually compete in the sport and who have faced constant adversity. These racers should have had their stories heard instead.

“This is not a personal attack on Kelly but rather questioning why the decision was made to position her as a representative for women in motorsport.”

kelly piquet getting a cover with ver representing women in motorsport is a joke — where are all the amazing engineerings, all the female drivers, pr agents, all of the reporters in news outlets and all the women working inside the teams that we don’t see???

— mar. (@mjfelicias) December 19, 2022

btw having Kelly Piquet feature in your “women in motorsports” edition dangerously implies that women are only in motorsports by virtue of their relationship with a boyfriend or a father or a brother, not merit as a racer / staff

— 💋 (@SCUDERIAROME) December 20, 2022

Some bit back at the criticism, saying the front page feature “made perfect sense”.

“This is Vogue Netherlands, the home of the F1 champion who happens to be her partner,” one social media user replied. Not to mention it‘s Vogue – a fashion magazine first and foremost, Kelly is a model, this actually makes perfect sense for their brand.”

Kelly’s father Nelson Piquet Sr, is often referred to as one of the greatest to ever grace the sport.

He won three world championships - 1981, 1983 and 1987 - driving for Brabham, Williams, Lotus and Benetton while battled against other greats including Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost.

He now manages his two racing sons, with Nelson Jr formerly driving for Renault in F1 before becoming a world champion in the Formula E.

However, an ugly racism scandal erupting earlier this year has tarnished his reputation.

Piquet and Verstappen have been an item since 2020, after she left former F1 star and father of her child Daniil Kyvat.

Piquet slammed Lewis Hamilton’s driving at Silverstone where he made contact with Verstappen on an explosive first lap.

Verstappen was sent hurtling in the barriers and taken to hospital for checks while Hamilton went on to win his home race for an eighth time.

Piquet claims Hamilton was at fault and referred to him with a derogatory racial remark.

The Formula 1 responded in a statement as they slammed any form of discriminatory or racist language.

“Discriminatory or racist language is unacceptable in any form and has no part in society. Lewis is an incredible ambassador for our sport and deserves respect,” the statement read.

“His tireless efforts to increase diversity and inclusion are a lesson to many and something we are committed to at F1.”

Hamilton’s team, Mercedes, were also quick to slam Piquet’s remarks.

“We condemn in the strongest terms any use of racist or discriminatory language of any kind,” the statement read.

“Lewis has spearheaded our sport’s efforts to combat racism, and he is a true champion of diversity on and off the track.”