F1 superstar Max Verstappen to become a dad as he and partner Kelly Piquet announce they are expecting baby

, Verstappen, who claimed his fourth successive world title last month, said: "Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way ❤️.

We couldn’t be happier with our little miracle 💫."

While Kelly : "Cannot express how happy we are. Thank you for all the sweet warm messages.

"I understand how these announcements can be challenging for those who are longing for a child.

"While such news is often a joyous occasion, it can also evoke feelings of sadness, frustrating, or longing in those who are struggling with this.

"If that's you, I'm sending all my love, my deepest hugs and magic your way."

Dutchman Verstappen has been in a relationship with Kelly, 35, daughter of three-time F1 world champion Nelson Piquet, for four years.

The pair met in 2016 - bonding over having fathers who were F1 drivers - with Verstappen's father Jos having raced in the sport for more than 100 races.

Love blossomed in 2020 and they soon moved in together into a £13million Monaco mansion.

Kelly previously dated former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat and has a daughter - born in 2019 - with the Russian.

In June this year she was forced to address unsavoury accusations made against her relating to past relationships.

She said: "A note from me and a gentle reminder to all…

"The online world can be a wonderful place for various reasons, but a very scary one when wrong information and lies are thrown around.

"I am unsure of the appropriate approach to address hate stemming from falsehoods. I have considered composing a response and letting it stand."

Verstappen has made headlines this week for a furious row with Mercedes driver George Russell.

The world champion accused Briton Russell of lying to influence stewards in Qatar last weekend.

Verstappen was handed a one-place grid penalty for driving "unnecessarily slowly" to block Russell during qualifying.

In response to Verstappen claiming he has "lost all respect" for his rival, Russell hit back by claiming the Dutchman threatened to put his "f****** head in the wall".

Russell said: "Whenever anything is not going his way he lashes out with unnecessary anger and borderline violence.

"He said to me he is going to purposely go out of his way to crash into me and put my ‘f***ing head in the wall’.

"I saw in his eyes that he meant it. I’ve lost respect for him.

"People have been bullied by Max for years. He’s been enabled because nobody’s stood up to him."

Verstappen denied the accusation, responding: "That’s not true. He’s trying to exaggerate it again.

"He’s a backstabber. You shouldn’t talk too much about people like that, because they’re just losers.

"I’ve never experienced anything like that from the stewards. I found his behaviour unacceptable.

"It has nothing to do with him being head of the Drivers’ Association. He simply lied."

The F1 season concludes on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.