Max Verstappen has made it abundantly clear that his infant daughter Lily will not be following in his footsteps into Formula 1, expressing his firm hope that she pursues a life away from the sport’s demanding spotlight. The four-time world champion, speaking candidly on the Viaplay programme Gemaximaliseerd, dismissed any notion of his daughter eventually competing in motorsport’s premier category with a resounding plea: “Please, no!”
The Red Bull Racing driver and his partner Kelly Piquet welcomed Lily into the world shortly before the Miami Grand Prix in May of last year. Verstappen, who has been in a relationship with Piquet for five years, already serves as stepfather to Penelope, Piquet’s daughter from her previous relationship with former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat. Despite his own legendary status in the paddock and a career spanning eleven seasons across Toro Rosso and Red Bull Racing, the Dutchman appears determined to shield his youngest child from the pressures that define his professional existence.
The realities of modern fatherhood
When Giedo van der Garde enquired about Verstappen’s nappy-changing duties during the Gemaximaliseerd interview, the reigning champion offered a characteristically dry response. “Not that many, fortunately,” he laughed, before adding with mock dismay: “But there was one this morning.” His accompanying gesture, mimicking the handling of a particularly unpleasant situation, provided a rare glimpse into his domestic life beyond the circuit.
Verstappen’s recollections of Lily’s earliest days were equally unvarnished. Drawing an unusual comparison, he likened his newborn daughter’s appearance to packaged poultry at the supermarket. “You know when you open one of those packages and there’s that skin… She really looked like that,” he explained. “It’s a hundred percent better now, but that was right after birth.” The remarkably candid observation underscores Verstappen’s unfiltered approach to discussing his personal life when he chooses to open up.
A father’s protective instincts
Verstappen’s emphatic rejection of a potential racing future for Lily stems from his intimate understanding of Formula 1’s all-consuming nature. Whilst he clearly relishes the competitive aspect of racing itself, the wider ecosystem of marketing obligations, public relations commitments, and constant media scrutiny holds little appeal for the Red Bull driver. His priority, he stated, centres on Lily’s happiness above all else, preferably in an environment far removed from the cameras and commentary that define his own existence.
The response to whether Lily might become the first female Formula 1 world champion was immediate and unequivocal. “I hope not. Please, no!” Verstappen declared, offering no further elaboration on his reasoning. The brevity of his answer perhaps speaks volumes about the sacrifices and pressures he has witnessed throughout his own career, which began in single-seaters at an exceptionally young age under the guidance of his father Jos, himself a former Formula 1 driver.
Life beyond the racing bubble
Verstappen’s comments reflect a broader tension experienced by many elite athletes between their professional success and the desire for normalcy in their personal lives. Having secured his fourth consecutive drivers’ championship in 2024, the 27-year-old has achieved virtually everything the sport offers. His perspective on fatherhood suggests a growing appreciation for experiences that exist independently of lap times, podiums, and championship points.
The Red Bull driver’s relationship with Piquet has provided stability throughout recent seasons, with Penelope frequently seen in the paddock alongside her mother. Verstappen’s role as stepfather to the daughter of a former teammate adds another layer to the interconnected web of relationships that characterises the Formula 1 paddock, particularly within the Red Bull family. Kvyat’s own Formula 1 career included stints with both Red Bull Racing and its junior team, creating an unusual but evidently functional extended family dynamic.
What this means going forward
Verstappen’s determination to keep Lily away from motorsport racing suggests a conscious decision to break the generational pattern that saw him follow Jos into Formula 1 from an exceptionally early age. Whilst his own career trajectory proved spectacularly successful, culminating in four world titles and dozens of race victories, the Dutchman appears intent on offering his daughter the freedom to forge her own path without the weight of expectation or the glare of public attention.
As Verstappen enters the 2025 season with new teammate Liam Lawson alongside him at Red Bull Racing, his focus on maintaining boundaries between his professional and personal worlds may well become increasingly important. The champion’s frank assessment of fatherhood, delivered with his characteristic blend of humour and honesty, provides a refreshing counterpoint to the carefully managed public personas that often dominate Formula 1’s media landscape. For Lily Verstappen, at least, the future holds possibilities that extend far beyond the confines of a racing circuit.
