Verstappen's Miami F1 weekend might become complicated as he anticipates the arrival of his new baby.

      Mark Thompson

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      Red Bull Racing has announced that Max Verstappen will be absent from Thursday’s media day leading up to the 2025 Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix. The four-time F1 champion and his partner, Kelly Piquet, are expecting the arrival of their child, which is anticipated soon.

      The team provided no further details regarding Verstappen's location or whether there is a backup plan should his participation be affected by the birth or travel arrangements. Red Bull’s statement noted that “all is well” and asked for “respect for the privacy of Max and his family.”

      The Dutch driver is expected to be in Miami in time for Friday's practice, though it remains uncertain if he would choose to forego that day’s activities if his family's situation necessitates it. Additionally, with this race weekend being a Sprint format, it might complicate Verstappen’s schedule.

      Neither Verstappen nor Piquet has disclosed where their first child together will be born, but they will likely opt for Monaco since they both live there year-round. Although the Piquet family has long been established in Miami, Kelly’s sister Julia recently mentioned that Kelly is too far along in her pregnancy to travel from Europe to Miami, likely ruling out the possibility of a U.S.-born child.

      This scenario is quite rare in F1, as most drivers tend to refrain from starting families (or even having partners) while their careers require them to be away from home for over 275 days a year. Last season, only three drivers on the grid were fathers: Nico Hulkenberg, Kevin Magnussen, and Sergio Perez. So far this year, only Hulkenberg is a father, but that is soon expected to change with the impending arrival of the Verstappen-Piquet baby.

      While Verstappen likely won’t have to choose between competing in Miami and being present for his child's birth, it’s also impossible to guarantee that he won’t face a choice. Given that the couple (and Red Bull) have had nine months to strategize, it's unlikely that anyone will have to make a hurried, spontaneous decision.

      Perhaps this is why Fernando Alonso commented in 2021: “There are negative aspects of Formula 1, especially after spending 18 years here. You devote your entire life to Formula 1. You have no friends, no family, no free time, no privacy, no wife, no kids, nothing. It requires total dedication if you wish to succeed.”

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