ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates — Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has announced that he and his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, are expecting their first child together. In a post shared on social media on Friday, Verstappen expressed his joy over the news, saying, “Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way. We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle.”

Both families boast a rich racing legacy. Verstappen recently claimed his fourth Formula 1 title during a race in Las Vegas last month, while Kelly Piquet is the daughter of Nelson Piquet, a three-time world champion from the 1980s. Verstappen’s dad, Jos, also participated in Formula 1 during the 1990s and early 2000s. Additionally, Kelly’s brother, Nelson Piquet Jr., was a driver for Renault in the 2000s and secured the championship title in the inaugural season of Formula E for electric cars in 2014-2015.

As the F1 season draws to a close, Verstappen is poised to compete for his tenth win of the year at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday. Practice sessions for the event commenced on Friday, leading up to a highly anticipated race weekend.