Max Verstappen focused and fast despite new role as a father
Fatherhood Fuels Max Verstappen’s Dominance in Miami
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Fatherhood has ushered in a new chapter in Max Verstappen's life, but there’s no sign it’s slowing him down on the racetrack. The four-time Formula 1 world champion, whose daughter Lily was born earlier this week in Monaco, promptly demonstrated his unshakable form by clinching pole position ahead of Sunday's Miami Grand Prix.
Defying the 'Parenthood Myth'
For years, a belief has circulated in motorsport circles that becoming a parent can dull a driver's edge. The theory suggests that parenthood introduces a heightened awareness of risk that could shave precious fractions off a racer's performance. But in Verstappen's case, the opposite seems to be true.
“Clearly, it didn’t make me slower being a dad, so that’s a positive,” Verstappen quipped during the post-qualifying press conference on Saturday. “So we can throw that out the window as well, for people mentioning it. I don’t really listen to these kinds of silly things—I just do my thing."
"I think there are enough racing drivers in the past who have been world champions even after having kids. Honestly, I don’t know where this has even come from,” Verstappen added, brushing off the notion with characteristic confidence.
Narrow Victory in Qualifying
The 27-year-old Dutchman edged out McLaren’s Lando Norris for pole by a razor-thin 0.065 seconds in a dramatic qualifying session. Norris, ever the joker, remarked afterward that he had hoped fatherhood might take some of the edge off Verstappen's relentless pace. Andrea Kimi Antonelli gave a strong performance as well, finishing third, a mere 0.002 seconds behind Norris.
A Busy Weekend Balancing Family and Racing
Verstappen’s race weekend in Miami got off to an eventful start. After arriving a day later than usual—having chosen to spend more time with his newborn daughter and long-time girlfriend, Kelly Piquet—the defending champion initially posted a pair of fourth-place finishes in practice and the sprint session. A pit lane mishap, however, saw him handed a 10-second penalty for an unsafe release, relegating him to 17th on the sprint grid.
Despite the tight travel schedule and juggling his new responsibilities, Verstappen displayed poise and composure both on and off the track.
“It’s been good to be able to spend a few days at home before coming here,” Verstappen said. “When she's just been born, you want to make sure everything is OK."
“I am in contact a lot with my girlfriend throughout the day—getting pictures and on FaceTime a bit. It’s always there, but now there’s one more member in the family.”
Horner Praises Verstappen’s Focus
Red Bull team principal Christian Horner lauded Verstappen’s remarkable ability to maintain laser focus despite the life-changing events off the track.
“As you can see, he is walking a step higher in becoming a father, and welcoming a beautiful little girl into the world,” Horner told Sky Sports F1 in Miami. "That is a massive thing for him, and as we see time and time again, when he crosses that line into the garage and puts his crash helmet on, everything disappears."
“His ability to focus and just deliver is insane—it is really, truly impressive. Like any great sportsman or woman, it is those big-pressure moments, that last set of tires, when the stakes are at their highest, where he shines,” Horner added. “Max is a master at that; he’s always been like that under pressure.”
Looking Ahead to the Miami Grand Prix
It’s clear from Saturday’s qualifying session that Verstappen has no plans of slowing down. If anything, he’s charging ahead, proving that balancing fatherhood and top-level competition is just another challenge he’s ready to conquer. Sunday’s Miami Grand Prix promises to be another high-stakes test, but for Verstappen, family and racing appear to be a winning combination.
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