Max Verstappen Opens Up About Fatherhood in Rare Personal Interview
In a rare personal interview, Max Verstappen discusses the joys and adjustments of fatherhood, revealing how he manages his F1 schedule to spend more time with his infant daughter and his role as a stepfather, offering a glimpse into the champion's life away from the track.
Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen has offered a rare personal glimpse into his life as a father, revealing the challenges and joys of balancing his demanding career with a young family. In a new interview filmed during the United States Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen discussed the adjustments he's made since welcoming his daughter, Lily, in April 2025, and his role as a "bonus dad" to his partner Kelly Piquet's six-year-old daughter, Penelope.
Why it matters:
Verstappen is famously private about his life away from the track, making this candid discussion a unique insight into the personal priorities of the sport's dominant champion. It highlights the human side of an athlete often seen only through the lens of competition and underscores the logistical and emotional realities F1 drivers face when managing a global schedule alongside family life.
The details:
- Verstappen explained he deliberately arrived in Austin on the Thursday of the race weekend to maximize time at home, stating, "Today's a bit longer then, but I prefer that now. Also with the little one at home."
- He described the difficulty of leaving for a two-week stretch on the road, noting, "Closing the door now, and then leaving, is a bit different. And coming back home [is the best part]."
- The Dutchman revealed that becoming a biological father was not a complete shock, as he has been a stepfather figure to Penelope since she was one year old. He called the experience "really, really good" and something he's "really, really enjoying."
- He shared developmental milestones, noting that five-and-a-half-month-old Lily has started "laughing, reacting and grabbing stuff" and is "almost sitting as well."
The big picture:
This interview peels back a layer of the intense, focused persona Verstappen projects at the circuit. It shows a champion actively reshaping his routine and travel plans around his family, suggesting a maturation and shift in perspective that often accompanies parenthood. While his competitive fire remains undiminished on track, these personal revelations provide a fuller picture of the man behind the helmet as he navigates the pinnacle of his career alongside a new chapter at home.