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Verstappen to miss his first baby being born? 'Unless I swear too much...'
For Max Verstappen the 2025 season will not only be an exciting year on track, but also outside of the world of F1. While many hope to prevent him from winning his fifth title in a row, the Dutchman's first child will be born this year as well. Can Verstappen be present when the latter will happen with such a busy schedule?
Verstappen: 'Unless I curse too much, I can't miss a race'
At the press conference ahead of the F1 75 Live event that is hosted at the O2 Arena in London, Verstappen talked to GPblog among others about their first child together with his girlfriend, Kelly Piquet. He explained that in order to be present, he might have to skip a race similarly to how footballers skip a matchday. "Yes, but I cannot miss a race, unless [I have] too many [penalty] points or [for] swearing," he the driver joked.
Paternity leave is therefore not an option. "Anything is possible, but in F1 that doesn't exist. You cannot take two months off," the four-time world champion continued.
If it happens, it happens. There's nothing I can do about it. Unfortunately, F1 drivers don't get time off, but at the same time I'm also not the one that is giving birth."
How is Verstappen feeling about becoming a father soon?
"Good, quite relaxed. Of course it is exciting," Verstappen says, who already said that he could practice being a so-called 'bonus dad' to Kelly Piquet's daughter, Penelope.
This article was written in collaboration with Nicole Mulder
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