Fatherhood makes Verstappen 'happier' and faster - Marko

      "Max hasn't become three-tenths slower, but rather two-tenths faster."

      Fatherhood has not hindered Max Verstappen's performance, as both his boss and championship foe claim. Although he skipped Thursday’s activities in Miami to spend valuable time with his newborn, Lily, in Monaco, the four-time world champion bounced back from a challenging sprint race to secure pole position for the Miami GP.

      "I was hoping he might slow down a bit," said McLaren’s Lando Norris, who qualified second, "but obviously that’s not the case."

      Verstappen, 27, was furious about a 5-second penalty just two weeks ago in Saudi Arabia, but Red Bull advisor Dr. Helmut Marko notes that the Dutch driver is particularly joyful in the U.S. "He is completely relaxed and enjoying fatherhood," the 82-year-old shared with Sky Deutschland. "He showed me pictures of the baby with the dog and the cat. He seems genuinely happy. And Max has not become three-tenths slower, but two-tenths faster," Marko chuckled.

      In a conversation with Viaplay, Verstappen revealed that he and his girlfriend Kelly Piquet decided to keep the baby’s name simple. "At some point, Lily just felt right," he explained. "It's short and sweet, and there’s no middle name—just Lily and the last name."

      It's uncertain whether the full name is Lily Verstappen or Lily Verstappen-Piquet, but Mercedes boss Toto Wolff certainly has his own thoughts on what to do if Max envisions a motorsport career for the child. "If she chooses to be Piquet-Verstappen, that’s fantastic for marketing," he joked.

      Verstappen also made it clear that even though Lily was born in Monaco, it doesn’t mean she will be considered Monegasque like Charles Leclerc. "She will have a Dutch and Brazilian passport," he stated. "Let’s keep it straightforward," he smiled.

      So straightforward that he hasn’t changed a diaper yet. "Kelly has been managing everything excellently," he admitted with a laugh, sharing that his girlfriend's pregnancy made him a bit more relaxed about his own diet. "I’ve also felt somewhat pregnant, which has put me close to my weight limit," he remarked. "Now, I just need to brake a bit later in turn 1."