Breaking News: Formula 1 superstar gives honest verdict about fatherhood
The quadruple world champion, Max Verstappen, has made a triumphant return to the top step of the podium, securing pole position for the Miami Grand Prix. This achievement comes just days after the birth of his daughter, Lily, and despite sitting out Thursday’s proceedings to spend precious time with his newborn.
Verstappen’s impressive performance has left his rivals in awe, with McLaren’s Lando Norris, who secured P2, jokingly expressing his surprise that the Dutchman hadn’t slowed down after becoming a father. “I was hoping he was going to slow down a little bit,” Norris smiled, “but clearly he didn’t.”
Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko has revealed that Verstappen is in a particularly good mood in the USA, attributing this to his newfound happiness as a father. “He is completely relaxed and is enjoying being a father,” Marko told Sky Deutschland. “He showed me the pictures of the little one, with the dog and the cat. He is happy, and you can tell.”
Marko also humorously noted that Verstappen’s new role as a father seems to have had a positive impact on his driving, saying, “Max has not become three tenths slower, but two tenths faster.”
In a conversation with Viaplay, Verstappen shared that he and his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, had taken a straightforward approach to naming their baby girl. “At some point, Lily just sounded nice,” he said. “Nice and short, and she doesn’t have a middle name, just Lily and the last name.”
While Verstappen’s daughter may not have a middle name, there is speculation about whether she will take on a hyphenated surname. Mercedes boss Toto Wolff jokingly suggested that if Lily were to pursue a career in motorsport, having a hyphenated surname like Piquet-Verstappen would be great for marketing.
Verstappen also clarified that despite Lily being born in Monaco, she will hold Dutch and Brazilian passports, rather than being Monegasque like Charles Leclerc. “Let’s just keep it simple,” he smiled.
The new father has admitted that he is yet to change a diaper, jokingly saying that his girlfriend, Kelly, had everything under control. Verstappen also humorously revealed that Kelly’s pregnancy had caused him to become a bit lazier about his own diet, saying, “I have also been a bit pregnant, so I am a bit at the limit with my weight.” However, he is confident that he can get back on track, saying, “Now I just have to brake a bit later in turn 1.”
