Max Verstappen arrived a day late in Miami for the sixth Formula 1 race of the season. His delay was due to a joyous reason: the birth of his first child.
The 27-year-old driver and his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet (daughter of former F1 champion Nelson Piquet), shared the news of their daughter Lily`s birth on social media Friday morning. This announcement came just before Verstappen made his appearance at the Miami Grand Prix paddock, greeted by photographers and fans.
“Fortunately, I was able to spend a few days with them after she was born,” Verstappen told ESPN in an exclusive interview upon arriving at Hard Rock Stadium, which hosts the Miami International Autodrome event each spring.
He added, “You never quite know what to anticipate, but it has been a truly enjoyable and definitely very special experience.”
When questioned about the challenges of first-time parenthood, Verstappen, a four-time F1 champion, pointed out that Piquet already has a six-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. He commented, “I`m essentially already a bonus dad. I`ve watched her grow up since she was just one.”
Verstappen, who has won 64 F1 races, including the inaugural Miami races in 2022 and 2023, has often spoken about the importance of getting enough sleep and relaxing by playing video games like racing simulators or Call of Duty. While having a new baby typically impacts both sleep and free time, the Dutch driver appeared unfazed.
“My sleep has been fine so far,” he reported. “Since I knew I`d be arriving late for Miami, we were between time zones, so I`ve already managed eight hours of sleep. It`s been good.”
And what about his gaming?
“I believe that will still be possible,” he mused. “Who knows? Perhaps in the future, we can even play together.”
Dominic Ashworth