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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will not participate in the press conference ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix as his girlfriend is due to give birth to their first child
Max Verstappen will not attend the media day ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix as the Dutchman’s partner, Kelly Piquet, is due to have the couple’s first child. He will, though, race this weekend, it has been confirmed.
Verstappen, 27, and Piquet began dating in 2020 and announced back in December that they were expecting their first child together. It had been speculated that the baby would arrive before the end of April, though nothing official has been shared.
Sprint racing in Miami will take place on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s big race, with qualifying for the main race set to occur on Saturday evening.
A Red Bull statement confirming the news was shared with media which read: “Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby. All is well and he will attend track tomorrow for the race weekend. We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”
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Red Bull’s other driver, Yuki Tsunoda, is poised to attend Thursday’s press conference despite Verstappen’s absence.
Speaking back in February with the Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad, Verstappen admitted there was a risk he could miss the baby’s birth given his profession, saying: “This is just part of being a Formula 1 driver. If it happens, it happens. I can’t do anything about it.
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“Unfortunately, Formula 1 drivers don’t get any free time. But at the same time, I’m not the one who gives birth. Anything is possible, but in Formula 1 that doesn’t exist. You can’t take two months off. Or I have to be suspended because I have too many penalty points for swearing.”
He added: “But it’s hard to put into words as long as the baby isn’t here yet. I’m looking forward to it, also to how I’m going to experience it all year. To be honest, I hope not much changes.”
Lando Norris and Oscar Piatri are among the favourites ahead of this weekend’s eagerly anticipated race in Miami. McLaren’s early dominance in the new season has nudged them ahead but Verstappen has also enjoyed success, winning the Japanese Grand Prix and securing two other podium finishes so far this term.
