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 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.”
READ MORE: Shock return of former F1 star teased by McLaren chief – ‘I have his phone number’READ MORE: George Russell flaunts brand new personalised £2.5m Mercedes hypercar with F1 engine
Red Bull’s other driver, Yuki Tsunoda, is poised to deputise for Verstappen at Thursday’s press conference.
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.
Sky Sports launches discounted Formula 1 package
£43
£35
Sky
Get Sky Sports here
Formula 1 fans can watch every practice, qualifying and race live with Sky’s new Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in a new deal that saves £192.
As well as Sky Sports access, this includes more than 100 TV channels and free subscriptions to Netflix and Discovery+.
“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.”
