The Women Behind the Wheel: Celebrating the Partners of Our Favorite Drivers

We're two weeks into this F1 fall break, and we need it to be race week again. However, there are two weeks until the lights go out in COTA when F1 returns to Austin for the second grand prix to be set in the US. We've had a lot of movement happen to the F1 grid since the summer break, so before the fall break is over, let's go over some old and some new faces we might run into the paddock, and I'm not talking about the drivers, I'm talking about the WAGS.

Max Verstappen & Kelly Piquet

*Max, Kelly, and Penelope (Instagram/ Kelly Piquet)*

The 3x time world champion is dating Kelly Piquet, the daughter of former F1 driver Nelson Piquet. Kelly and Max have been together since 2020. Kelly has always been a fashion guru, but she has turned it into a modeling career in the last few years. Kelly also has a daughter, Penelope, with former F1 driver and Max's ex-teammate Daniil Kyvat.

Sergio "Checo" Perez & Carola Martinez

The Red Bull driver is married to Carola Martinez. The pair got married in 2018 after getting engaged in 2017. It is not widely known when they first started dating, but they both hail from Guadalajara, Mexico, and met when Perez was in his twenties. They welcomed their first child in 2017.

George Russell & Carmen Mundt

*George and Carmen at Wimbledon (Instagram/ George Russell)*

The British driver has been dating Carmen Mundt since 2020. Carmen is originally from Spain but moved to the UK to pursue a career in business management. The couple are frequently seen together, with Carmen attending almost every race this season and accompanying him to events like Wimbledon. They recently took a big step in their relationship when Carmen announced earlier this year that she would be leaving London to move in with George, who currently resides in Monaco.

Oscar Piastri & Lily Zneimer

*Oscar and Lily during the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi (Getty Images)*

Oscar Piastri has been dating his longtime girlfriend, Lily Zneimer, since they were both 17. They keep their relationship very private and share very few photos of each other online. However, Lily can be seen in the paddock from time to time. Oscar says that Lily keeps him grounded, especially after his newfound popularity following his entry into F1 in 2023.

Carlos Sainz & Rebecca Donaldson

In early 2023, Carlos Sainz ended his relationship with Spanish journalist Isa Hernaez after seven years of dating. Later that summer, he was spotted with Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson. Rebecca had previously been romantically linked to Scott Disick, which helped boost her career. Not much is known about Carlos and Rebecca's relationship, but Rebecca can often be seen in the paddock with her fellow Ferrari WAG. Aside from modeling, Rebecca also launched her own activewear line during the pandemic.

Charles Leclerc & Alexandra Saint Mleux

*Charles and Alex at the F1 Grand Prix Of Monaco Gala (Getty)*

The Monaco-based driver is in a relationship with another Monegasque, Alexandra Saint Mleux, affectionately known as "Alex" by Charles and their fans. They were first seen together in March 2023, and their relationship was officially confirmed in May of the same year when Alex made her first appearance in the paddock. Alex is a social media influencer who enjoys sharing her travels and posting about her passion for art. The couple is frequently seen together in Monaco, at various vacation destinations, and around the paddock. They also have a dog named Leo Leclerc.

Alex Albon & Lily Muni He

*Alex Albon & Lily on race day (Getty Images)*

The race car driver is dating professional golfer Lily Muni He. Lily is a Chinese golf prodigy from California. Lily and Ale's story started in 2019 after the golfer watched the F1 docuseries on Netflix, "Drive to Survive," and decided to follow him on Instagram, and well the rest is history. When Lily isn't traveling the world for golf tournaments, she's seen around the paddock as everyone's favorite fashion icon.

Pierre Gasly & Kika Gomes

*Pierre & Kika on the red carpet (Getty Images)*

The French Alpine driver has been dating the Portuguese model Francisca "Kika" Gomes since 2022. The two confirmed their relationship when Kika was first spotted in the paddock for the F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi. When they're not at a race track, they can be seen relaxing on romantic getaways on their social media or attending fashion shows and red-carpet events.

Esteban Ocon & Flavy Barla

The other half of Alpine's French pair, Esteban Ocon, is currently dating French medical student Flavy Barla. Fans were shocked when the 2023 season officially ended. However, drivers were still at the track for some testing, and Esteban showed up hand in hand with Flavy.

Liam Lawson & Hannah St. John

Liam Lawson is returning to the grid after replacing Daniel Ricciardo following the F1 break. Liam is currently in a relationship with American influencer and model Hannah St. John. Additionally, Hannah is a student at Arizona State University, where she is studying biological and biomedical sciences. The couple is frequently seen together at their homes, on vacation, and at the track.

Valtteri Botta & Tiffany Cromwell

The KICK Sauber driver is dating Olympic cyclist Tiffany Cromwell. These two reportedly met in a pub and announced their relationship on Instagram on Valentine's Day 2020. The couple bonded over their love of cycling and can be seen frequently cycling together on each other's social media. Tiffany is still a professional cyclist and rides for the UCI Women's World Team. If she's not racing herself, she can be seen at the paddock.

Lance Stroll and Marilou Bélanger

No one knows precisely when Canadian model Marilou Bélanger started dating Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll. It is suspected that they began dating in September of 2023, but they confirmed their relationship in December after posting a picture of themselves at a football game. Marilou has only been seen at the Canadian Grand Prix.

Fernando Alonso & Melissa Jiminez

Fernando Alonso is known for keeping his personal life private, making it difficult to determine his relationship status. However, over the past year, rumors have linked him to Spanish journalist Melissa Jiminez, who currently works in the F1 paddock. Despite neither confirming nor denying their relationship, many fans believe they are dating.

Niko Hulkenberg & Egle Ruskyte

The German driver began dating Lithuanian model Egle Ruskyte in 2015. Egle also has her own fashion brand, which sells crochet beach clothes. The couple first married in a private ceremony in 2021 and then had a second wedding in 2022. In the same year, they welcomed their first daughter.

Kevin Magnessen and Louise Gjorup

Kevin Magnussen married Louise Gjorup in 2019. They keep their relationship very private, and Louise is rarely seen in the paddock. The two share two daughters.