F1 driver shares heartbreaking news says, 'We had to say goodbye...'

“Unfortunately, we had to say goodbye to Rosie recently, but Basil is still keeping us on our toes.”

Rosie’s passing leaves a void in the Piastri household, now brightened by the presence of their other dog, Basil.

Max Verstappen Welcomes a New Family Member

While Piastri mourned his loss, reigning four-time World Champion Max Verstappen announced the arrival of a new pet into his family. Verstappen introduced a dachshund named Nino during a livestream over the weekend.

Sharing a humorous anecdote about Nino, Verstappen said:
“His name is Nino, but he’s gone for a while now. I put his food here, and then he wasn’t interested in me anymore!”

Nino joins Verstappen’s existing pets, including three cats – Jimmy, Sassy, and Donatello – making the Red Bull driver’s home livelier than ever.

Verstappen Prepares for Fatherhood

Verstappen’s family life is set to grow further, as he and his partner Kelly Piquet are expecting their first child. Kelly, daughter of three-time F1 World Champion Nelson Piquet, already has a daughter, Penelope, from her previous relationship with former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat.

The news of Verstappen’s impending fatherhood sparked discussions in the F1 world, with Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko suggesting it might impact Verstappen’s on-track performance. Marko remarked:
“Generally, people say that after their first child, drivers will drive three tenths slower. That means Max will be within reach of some of the top drivers, but he would still be a bit ahead of them. So that means there’s no problem.”

Jos Verstappen Dismisses Concerns

Jos Verstappen, Max’s father, dismissed Marko’s claims, arguing that becoming a parent will only motivate his son further. Speaking to De Telegraaf, Jos said:
“No, that’s bull**t. I think it just motivates. It didn’t bother me before. Max has known for a while that he’s going to be a father. That thought hasn’t exactly bothered him.