In a heartwarming yet hilarious revelation, Kelly Piquet and Sophie Kumpen, two of the most important women in Max Verstappen’s life, recently shared a moment of laughter over a peculiar habit the Formula 1 world champion has clung to since his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood days. From his early years as a clingy little boy to his current status as a three-time F1 world champion, Max Verstappen’s slow eating has been a source of amusement, frustration, and now, an unexpected breakthrough, courtesy of Piquet’s persistence. This endearing quirk, which has followed the Red Bull Racing star through karting tracks to global racetracks, paints a surprisingly relatable picture of the otherwise fierce and lightning-fast driver.

For those who know Max Verstappen, the 28-year-old Dutch racing prodigy, he’s the epitome of speed and precision on the F1 circuit. With a record-breaking 61 race wins, including a dominant 2024 season where he clinched his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship, Verstappen’s life seems to move at 200 miles per hour. But off the track, there’s one thing that slows him down to a snail’s pace: his meals. According to sources close to the Verstappen family, Max has always been an agonizingly slow eater, a habit that has baffled and entertained those around him for decades.

Sophie Kumpen, Max’s mother, recalls the early days when her son’s dawdling over dinner was a daily ritual. “Even as a little boy, Max would take forever to finish his food,” Sophie shared with a chuckle during a recent interview. “He’d sit there, chewing each bite like he was analyzing it like a race strategy. We’d all be done, and he’d still be poking at his peas!” This slow-eating habit wasn’t just a quirk—it was a test of patience for the Verstappen household. Sophie, who raised Max and his sister Victoria in the small Belgian town of Bree, often found herself coaxing her son to pick up the pace so they could move on with their day.

Fast forward to 2025, and Max’s leisurely dining pace has remained a constant, much to the amusement of his partner, Kelly Piquet. The Brazilian model and daughter of F1 legend Nelson Piquet has been dating Max since 2020, and she’s had a front-row seat to his glacial eating habits. During a recent family gathering, Kelly and Sophie reportedly burst into laughter as they reminisced about Max’s 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood clinginess and how his slow eating has stub𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧ly persisted. “It’s like he’s savoring every single crumb,” Kelly said, shaking her head with a grin. “We’ll be at a restaurant, and the waiters are practically closing up while Max is still working on his main course!”

This quirky habit has become something of a running joke among Max’s inner circle. Friends and family have long teased him about his ability to stretch a simple meal into a marathon. Whether it’s a plate of pasta or a post-race protein shake, Max takes his sweet time, often lost in thought or conversation while his food sits untouched for minutes at a time. “It’s not that he doesn’t like food,” a close friend revealed. “He just gets distracted or takes forever to chew. It’s like he’s in his own world.”

For years, Max’s slow eating was just an endearing oddity, something that humanized the otherwise unstoppable racing machine. But as his fame grew, so did the challenges of accommodating this habit. During F1 race weekends, where every minute is meticulously planned, Max’s leisurely dining has occasionally caused headaches for his team. “We’ve had to build extra time into his schedule for meals,” a Red Bull insider admitted. “He’s so focused on the track, but put a sandwich in front of him, and it’s like time slows down.”

What makes this story even more intriguing is Kelly Piquet’s recent breakthrough in tackling Max’s slow-eating habit. Known for her determination and sharp wit, Kelly has reportedly taken it upon herself to help Max speed up his meals—without sacrificing the charm of his quirky personality. Sources say that Kelly’s approach has been a blend of patience, humor, and clever tactics. “Kelly’s been amazing at finding ways to keep Max on track,” a family friend shared. “She’s not trying to change who he is, but she’s gently nudging him to eat a bit faster, especially when they’re out in public or on a tight schedule.”

So, how did Kelly manage to make progress where others, including Sophie, had struggled for years? It turns out, her strategy was both practical and playful. Kelly began by turning mealtimes into a game, challenging Max to finish his food within a certain time limit while keeping the mood light. “She’d tease him, saying, ‘Come on, champ, you can lap a circuit in 90 seconds, but you can’t finish a burger in 20 minutes?’” the friend revealed. This competitive edge appealed to Max’s racing instincts, and he started to take the challenge seriously.

Kelly also introduced small, practical changes to their dining routine. Instead of overwhelming Max with large portions, which often led to him picking at his food, she started serving smaller, more manageable plates that felt less daunting. She also encouraged Max to stay present during meals, gently steering him away from distractions like his phone or deep conversations about race data. “Kelly’s been brilliant at making Max feel like he’s still in control,” Sophie noted. “She’s not forcing him, but she’s guiding him to be a bit more efficient.”

The results have been nothing short of remarkable. While Max hasn’t completely abandoned his slow-eating ways, those close to him say he’s made significant strides. “He’s still not going to win any speed-eating contests,” Kelly joked, “but he’s definitely improved. We can actually get through a meal without the restaurant staff giving us the side-eye!” Sophie, too, has been impressed by Kelly’s influence. “I tried for years to get Max to eat faster, but Kelly’s found the magic touch,” she said with a laugh.

This charming story of Max Verstappen’s slow-eating habit offers a rare glimpse into the personal life of one of F1’s biggest stars. Beyond the trophies and champagne showers, Max is a man of quirks and habits, just like anyone else. His slow eating, rooted in his 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥hood days of clinging to his mother’s side, adds a layer of relatability to his larger-than-life persona. And with Kelly Piquet’s breakthrough, it’s clear that even world champions can evolve—albeit one bite at a time.

As Max continues to dominate the F1 grid, his slow-eating habit remains a lighthearted reminder that even the fastest man on four wheels has his own pace off the track. Fans have taken to social media to share their amusement, with some joking that Max’s slow eating is his way of “savoring the victory” of every meal. Others have praised Kelly for her patience and ingenuity, with one fan tweeting, “If Kelly can get Max Verstappen to eat faster, she deserves a championship trophy of her own!”

For now, Max’s inner circle is content to let him enjoy his meals at his own pace—though they’re grateful for Kelly’s efforts to keep things moving. As Sophie put it, “He’s still our Max, slow eating and all. But it’s nice to know he’s in good hands with Kelly.” And so, the F1 world champion continues to race through life, leaving his competitors in the dust but taking his sweet time with his spaghetti.