Formula 1 driver Max Verstappen is missing at the start of the Miami Grand Prix 2025: The media day on Thursday before the racing weekend takes place without the World Cup defender.
Verstappen’s Team Red Bull justified his absence with a short statement: “Max will not take part in Miami on the media day because he expects his child’s birth.”
The racing team insured, Verstappen itself is well and will be regular on the race track from Friday and will take part in the driving.
Red Bull does not give any further details: “At the moment we will not make any further comments to respect the privacy of Max and his family.”
For Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet, it is the first child together. World champion daughter Piquet already has a daughter from her previous relationship with ex-formula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat. The couple separated in 2019 a few months after the birth. Verstappen has been the man on Piquet’s side since 2020.
Formula 1: Max Verstappen is not planning a baby break
Last year the two had announced the upcoming birth with a posting on social networks and wrote: “Mini Verstappen-Piquet on the way!” They stated that they “couldn’t be happier” with their “little miracle”.
And Verstappen has already revealed so much: he does not want to take a “baby break” in Formula 1, but continue his career as planned. But he may have to restrict his hobbies in time, says Verstappen.
This “miracle” is now the reason why Verstappen starts the race weekend in Miami late. Because actually Formula 1 drivers are only allowed in exceptional cases to stay away from the media day on Thursday-for example for health or, as in this case, family reasons.