NASCAR driver Daniel Suarez expects first child, credits Nelson Piquet Jr. for early support

Daniel Suarez and his wife, Julia Piquet, announced they are expecting their first child together. The couple said the milestone traces back to a friendship formed in NASCAR when Suarez, a Mexican driver who arrived in the United States in 2011 with limited funds and little English, met former Formula 1 driver Nelson Piquet Jr., one of the few Spanish‑speaking racers in the paddock.

Nelson Piquet Jr. helped Suarez adjust to life in the sport and later suggested he propose to Julia before she moved from Miami to North Carolina in 2020. Suarez recalled joking, “With what money? Are you going to sponsor it?” before assuring Nelson he would propose when the time was right. The friendship also led to the couple’s first meeting at a post‑race gathering, eventually culminating in their marriage and now a baby on the way.