Becoming a dad hasn’t made me slower – Verstappen
- F1
- May 4, 2025
Max Verstappen says that his pole position in the Miami Grand Prix shows that becoming a father for the first time has not done it slower.
The defending champion was late to Miami after the birth of his first son, a daughter named Lily, with his partner Kelly Piquet, and described room for Sprint Bull Pit’s stop error took him out of the points. Verstappen responded with strong performance in the third quarter to ensure the pole position ahead of Lando Norris in 0.065s, and says that it shows that there has been no impact on its performance.
“It’s good to be able to spend a few days at home before coming here,” Verstappen said. “When she has just born, you want to make sure everything is fine. It clearly did not make me slowly, bee a father! So that is positive. We can also throw that out the window for the people who mention it.
“When I was honestly here, it is quite fluid. Anyway, I am in contact with the bride during the day, getting photos and face a little. He is always there. But now one more member of the family.
“I really don’t go to this son of silly things; I just do mine. I think there are enough racing drivers in the past who have a world bone champion just after having children, you know? I don’t know where it comes from.”
Red Bull brought an update from floor to Miami that Verstappen says it helped him get a little more comfortable in the car and he may have played a role in his pole position, but still distrusts the challenge that is coming trying to convert that.
“We are still fighting a little with our limitations in the car, but I think we have a pretty decent leg on a return. If you look at the curves, we are a bit slow this week this week this week [compared to] McLaren and Mercedes, and play a new engine and, of course, that always gives a little more power than a used engine.
“It seems that it is a little better. Of course, the long race is a different story. The tires are heated a lot here, but tomorrow I do not know what will happen in terms of rain or not, how warm it will be honest, colder is.”
