The Dynamic Lives Of Formula 1’s Wives And Girlfriends
Although Formula 1 fandom tends to vary from region to region, it's nonetheless considered the premiere, prestigious international racing league. While Americans have as big a place in their hearts for NASCAR, those with less enthusiasm for stock cars will find their home in this arena.
When people become invested in their favorite racers, they want to know more about their lives, including their relationships. While it's true that many racers share a desire to keep their personal lives private with other celebrities, others are a little more willing to give fans a peek behind the curtain.
Flavy Barla, girlfriend of Esteban Ocon
After his five-year relationship with model Elena Berri ended, Her World Singapore reported that Esteban Ocon ended the 2023 F1 season in the company of Flavy Barla. She's a 21-year-old medical student who dreams of being a surgeon one day.
That's certainly an ambitious pursuit, but her beauty has also been officially recognized in France. That's because she won the title of Miss Cote d'Azur in 2022, which put her in the running for Miss France. However, she didn't end up taking the biggest prize, finishing as fifth runner-up.
Kelly Piquet, girlfriend of Max Verstappen
Although People reported that Kelly Piquet is a model and former stylist assistant, she also has a connection to the world of Formula 1 through her father. That's because he is former F1 racer Nelson Piquet. She also has a daughter named Penelope by another racer named Daniil Kvyat.
However, 2020 saw her start a new chapter with Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen, which the couple confirmed on Instagram in early 2021. The couple has been relatively quiet about their relationship since then but have nonetheless been photographed together fairly often.
Rebecca Donaldson, girlfriend of Carlos Sainz
Although Scottish model Rebecca Donaldson and Ferrari racer Carlos Sainz have yet to explicitly confirm their relationship, People reported that they've had multiple affectionate moments photographed since the two met in Italy in 2023. She has also been a consistently supportive presence at Sainz's races since this meeting.
As for Donaldson herself, She's represented by Brand Model Management and has made a wide variety of featured appearances in the fashion and beauty worlds, including cover appearances on Marie Claire Mexico and Vogue Ukraine.
Carola Martinez, wife of Sergio Perez
As is the case for many racing couples, Red Bull Racing driver Sergio Perez and his wife Carola Martinez were quiet about their relationship for a time. According to People, however, this changed after they welcomed their son Sergio Perez Jr. into the world in 2017, and married a year later.
Although little is known about Martinez herself, People did report that she was also born in Guadalajara, Mexico, and met Perez in her 20s. The couple have since had three additional children and Martinez has shown steadfast support for her husband's racing.
Alexandra Saint Mleux, girlfriend of Charles Leclerc
According to People, Formula 1 champion and Ferrari racer Charles Leclerc of Monaco has been dating Italian-born French student Alexandra Saint Mleux since 2023. Although the two have been photographed together at Wimbledon, the Las Vegas Grand Prix, and other events since that became clear, the couple is private about their relationship.
Indeed, Saint Mleux also keeps her personal Instagram under wraps. However, she does have an account dedicated to the art she encounters, as she's studying art history in Paris. She also has a TikTok account with at least 250,000 followers.
Francisca Gomes, girlfriend of Pierre Gasly
Alpine team racer Pierre Gasly first publically appeared with Portuguese model Francisca Gomes in 2022 while watching a soccer match with her in France. Although they're a fairly private couple, Gomes celebrated Gasly's 28th birthday with a glowing caption in 2024, saying, "The one who taught me what real love is. My life partner and best friend."
For her part, Gomes is a model and influencer who is signed to the Portuguese modeling agency Central Models. Although she's collaborated with brands like Carolina Herrera and H&M, she's also appeared on the cover of the Portuguese magazines LuxWOMAN and CRISTINA.
Heidi Berger, girlfriend of Daniel Ricciardo
Although People reported that AlphaTauri racer Daniel Ricciardo had been linked to Heidi Berger as early as 2021, they didn't confirm their relationship until the following year. After Ricciardo shared photos of them together, he told radio co-hosts Fitzy and Wippa, "Yeah mate, I'm in love, I got a good thing going, so yeah. I’ve got a good balance in life right now."
But who is Berger? Well, she's an actress who is most notable for appearing in the Portuguese mystery drama series Onde Está Elisa? and the Portuguese soap opera A Única Mulher. She studied at New York University and her father is former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger.
Louise Gjørup, wife of Kevin Magnussen
Danish Formula 1 racer Kevin Magnussen drives for Haas and married Louise Gjørup in 2019. According to People, this came after three years of dating and preceded the births of their two daughters. Laura arrived on January 11, 2021, while Agnes entered the world in July of 2023.
Although it's unclear what ambitions Gjørup has for herself, she's so supportive of her husband's racing career that she convinced him to get back into it in 2022 after a lengthy hiatus. As Magnussen said, "I'm very lucky to have a wife who is super flexible and ready to go all out to make things work when I’m away."
Carmen Montero Mundt, girlfriend of George Russell
George Russell races for Mercedes and in 2020, he started dating Carmen Montero Mundt after meeting through a mutual friend in London. Mundt is both public about her love of Russell and supportive of his racing, telling a fan on Instagram that racing, "Takes my head away from work and I enjoy the sport and spending time with him. There's nothing that brings me more joy than G's success."
According to People, Mundt has worked as an investor relations associate for a firm called Ruffer and graduated from the University of Westminster in 2021. She studied business management and finance but is interested in pursuing further education.
Lily Zneimer, girlfriend of Oscar Piastri
Unlike many of his contemporaries in Formula 1, McLaren racer Oscar Piastri has been dating his high school sweetheart for the entirety of his racing career. He and Lily Zneimer have been dating since they were 17 and during a podcast appearance in December 2023, Piastri said, "It's been nice to have someone there from the start."
Although Zneimer has shown up to support Piastri at events like the 2023 Grand Prix of Italy, the lack of public information about her is entirely by the couple's choice. As Piastri said, "We keep it private. Not secretive, like some relationships are. But yeah, we keep it to ourselves."
Marilou Bélanger, girlfriend of Lance Stroll
Aston Martin racer Lance Stroll has been seeing Marilou Bélanger since at least September of 2023, as that's when Bélanger started posting coy photos of them together. By December of that year, however, the couple was official.
According to People, Bélanger works as a model, and she's signed to multiple talent agencies, including Select Model, Wilhemina London, and MGM Model. Her work has also been high profile enough to include appearances in La Vie en Rose and Lole campaigns. She was born in Canada.
Laila Hasanovic, girlfriend of Mick Schumacher
Mick Schumacher had a lot of buzz in the racing world from the very beginning because he's the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher. The German racing scion is currently a reserve driver for Mercedes.
Although GPFans noted that he previously dated the daughter of fellow racer Harald Huysman, Schumacher is now confirmed to be dating Danish model Laila Hasanovic. They went public with their relationship in 2023 after posting a photo together on Instagram. They've since been photographed together at multiple events, including the Grand Prix of Spain (pictured).
Egle Ruskyte, wife of Nico Hulkenberg
Haas racer Nico Hulkenberg married Egle Ruskyte in 2021, but it seems they weren't entirely satisfied with how that wedding went because the couple got married for the second time in June of 2022. They have also since had a daughter named Noemi Sky together.
As Ruskyte once wrote in an Instagram post, "We are lucky to have 2 wedding anniversaries within a week (celebrating twice is better than once)." According to People, she is a fashion designer who owns a crochet beachwear line called Egle. The products are handmade and she sometimes shares her designs under the name "The Crochet Girl."
Lily Muni He, girlfriend of Alex Albon
According to People, Thai-British driver Alex Albon first attracted Lily Muni He's interest when she saw him in Season 1 of the show Drive To Survive. When she reached out to Albon on Instagram, she discovered that he was just as interested in her career as a professional golfer as she was in his racing career.
As He said, "We started talking on the phone. We were both rookies in 2019 and I thought that was extremely cool." After Albon had an event in the United States and made a stop in Los Angeles, the two were able to meet in person for the first time. The rest is history.
Geri Halliwell, wife of Christian Horner
If Geri Halliwell's name and face look familiar, that's probably because she was once known as Ginger Spice. Although she was the first member of the Spice Girls to leave the group, her marriage to Red Bull Formula One Team Principal Christian Horner has reached power couple status.
According to The Knot, the two brought a blended family together before having a son of their own. Horner is stepfather to Halliwell's daughter from a previous relationship and she is stepmother to Horner's daughter. The couple married on May 15, 2015.
Jade Distinguin, girlfriend of Arthur Leclerc
Although neither Scuderia Ferrari development driver Arthur Leclerc — who is also the younger brother of Ferrari racer Charles Leclerc — nor TikTok influencer Jade Distinguin have publicly spoken about their relationship, it seems that hasn't stopped it from capturing the attention of their fans.
After all, one can only see so many photos and video clips of them being affectionate with each other and holding hands before it becomes obvious that something romantic is going on between them. Indeed, that's precisely what fans have noticed ever since the started getting close in January of 2024.
Tiffany Cromwell, girlfriend of Valtteri Bottas
According to People, Alfa Romeo racer Valtteri Bottas first started dating Tiffany Cromwell in 2020, which she confirmed with a series of Valentine's Day photos. This included a loving caption that she ended by saying, "So lucky to have found you. Can't wait for all the adventures to come."
Indeed, both seem equipped to have some impressive adventures. Along with being the co-founder of Oath Gin and the Oath Lounge, Cromwell is also a professional cyclist who rides for the Canyon//SRAM racing team. Some feathers in her cap include appearances at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo (which were delayed by a year).
Michelle Yeoh, wife of Jean Todt
It's not unheard of for the wives of experienced Formula 1 racers to be more famous than they are, but nowhere is that more true than in the marriage of Jean Todt. Considering the French racing executive and former rally driver has been the CEO of Ferrari, the president of the FIA, and is now the United Nations' Special Envoy for Road Safety, that's saying something.
Nonetheless, he doesn't have an Academy Award. After a long, respectable career in both the Hong Kong and American film industries, Michelle Yeoh reached that defining accolade after starring in the ambitious 2023 film Everything Everywhere All At Once.
Susie Wolff, wife of Toto Wolff
Austrian racer Toto Wolff has enjoyed a distinguished enough Formula 1 career that he's now the team principal for Mercedes, and it seems that the only one who could catch him was a fellow driver. According to GPFans, Susie Wolff was once a test driver for Williams before the two tied the knot in 2011.
Wolff has two children from a previous relationship, but he and his wife have since had a son together. Susie Wolff has also ascended to managing director of the F1 Academy and the years since marrying the Mercedes team leader.
Nicole Scherzinger, ex-girlfriend of Lewis Hamilton
As far as anyone knows, Formula 1 star Lewis Hamilton doesn't appear to be dating anyone seriously. According to GPFans, Hamilton said in 2021 that his romantic life is essentially non-existent, as his recent focus has been on racing.
Nonetheless, he was in a long-term relationship with former Pussycat Dolls lead singer Nicole Scherzinger, which saw them date off and on between 2007 and 2015. While Hamilton has since been linked to multiple stars of sports and entertainment, nothing has been confirmed.
Hanna Prater, wife of Sebastian Vettel
Although retired Formula 1 star Sebastian Vettel is a reportedly private person when he's not racing, GPFans noted that he was nonetheless public enough about his relationship with Hanna Prater that it made headlines when the two married in early 2019.
Prater is a German fashion designer and entrepreneur who has been in Vettel's life since at least 2006. Although it's unclear how much of that time was spent in platonic friendship and how much was spent in a romantic relationship, the spouses now have two daughters and a son together.
Estelle Ogilvy, girlfriend of Oliver Bearman
According to The Daily Mail, British racing prodigy Oliver Bearman caused a major sensation with his Saudi Arabian Grand Prix debut in 2024 after he was chosen as a last-minute replacement for Carlos Sainz, who came down with appendicitis. Bearman made history there as the youngest U.K. resident to race in a Formula 1 Grand Prix at 18.
Although he and his girlfriend Estelle Ogilvy have kept their relationship private — with even details of how they met being sparse — what is known is that Ogilvy is a law student who is also represented by the British modeling agency Storm Management.
Eva Bruggenwirth, girlfriend of Nyck De Vries
Although professional racing is enough of a jet-setting profession that international love is common, Dutch champion and current Toyota team racer Nyck De Vries has found long-term love in his native Netherlands. According to The Sun, the couple first appeared together in 2020 and have only become more serious since.
Eva Bruggenwirth is a social media manager for the fashion brand Anna and Nina, as well as a content creator. She's also the owner of Guapalana, a homemade mohair knitting company she runs with her mother.
Hannah St. John, girlfriend of Liam Lawson
In September 2023, New Zealand racer Liam Lawson made his Formula 1 debut at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. By that point, he was already in his current relationship with an American woman named Hannah St. John. Months before his race, they took some affectionate photos together in Laguna Beach, California.
St. John is an Arizona native who is in the process of studying for her bachelor's degree in biological and biomedical sciences at Arizona State University. She's also known to make adoring social media posts about Lawson.
Luisinha Oliveira, ex-girlfriend Lando Norris
Likely owing to the British racing star's youthful looks and dedicated fanbase, GPFans reported that Lando Norris caused an unexpected social media sensation when he confirmed that he was dating Portuguese model Luisinha Oliveira in 2022. Apparently, the social media sensation was so intense that the couple received death threats before the year was out.
However, anyone incensed enough about this relationship to do such a thing was likely relieved to know that Norris and Oliveria split up by September. According to The Daily Express, this followed leaked Instagram messages that saw Norris ask a Dutch woman out while he was supposed to be with Oliveria.
Sandra Dziwiszek, girlfriend of Nicholas Latifi
Whether he meant to or not, Canadian Williams racer Nicholas Latifi first made his relationship with Sandra Dziwiszek public in 2021 via a social media post taken from Greece's Mykonos island. According to Essentially Sports, Dziwiszek attained a law degree and her master's in the subject in London.
At the same time, the Polish-born Portugal resident is also represented by Pop Models Milano, an Italian modeling agency. If that weren't enough, she's also a professional pole vaulter. From the sounds of things, she may be even more accomplished than Latifi is.
Brittny Button, wife of Jenson Button
Jenson Button is a British-born legend in Formula 1, most recently serving as a World Endurance Championship competitor for Hertz Team Rota. According to Vogue Australia, they have been married long enough to have two sons — four-year-old Hendrix and three-year-old Lenny — together.
For her part, Brittny Button is an interior designer who founded the company Button Atelier and spearheaded the renovation of their stately home in Calabasas, California. In addition to their children, the couple shares the home with their dogs Bentley, Rogue, and Storm.
Andrea Schlager, ex-girlfriend of Fernando Alonso
Although Spanish racer Fernando Alonso has been periodically linked to TV personalities and was even once subject to a rumor that he was dating Taylor Swift, his last confirmed relationship ended in April 2023.
According to GPFans, that romantic entanglement lasted just under a year and saw him date Austrian TV host Andrea Schlager. She specializes in talking about Formula 1 — which is likely how they met — but she's also had a similar professional link to the world of tennis.
Riley Whittall, possible girlfriend of Logan Sargeant
Although Riley Whittall's attachment to American Formula 1 racer Logan Sargent is unconfirmed, Essentially Sports reported that fans saw reason to suspect that they're an item. That's because her friend Alexis Loomans replied "@logansargeant back off, she's mine" on a photo she posted before suddenly deleting the comment.
Naturally, both the comment and the deletion only heightened fans' suspicions. It's also a little mysterious as to who Whittall is, but she has a fairly sizable presence on both Instagram and TikTok.