Aurélien Canot, Media365, published on Friday 02 May 2025 at 3:35 p.m.
Max Verstappen has been a dad for the first time since Friday. The Dutch champion had precisely remained alongside his partner Kelly Piquet for childbirth. Absent for the Media Day, the F1 World Champion is however expected in Miami in the coming hours for the first free test session.
If he wins the Miami Grand Prix this weekend, Max Verstappen will not only have to slash the champagne for his victory. Friday, a few hours before the kick -off of this sixth round of the season marked in particular by the return of Lando Norris, now second in the general classification behind his teammate Oscar Piastri, on the first circuit which had seen him triumph in F1, the Dutch champion has indeed become dad for the first time in his life, at 27 years old. His partner Kelly Piquet (daughter of the Brazilian legend Nelson Piquet), already a mother of a little Pénélope, born in 2019 of her union with the Russian Daniil Kvyat, another F1 pilot, gave birth to another little girl, named Lily. Verstappen, who remained alongside his girlfriend for childbirth, expressed his happiness during the day on social networks. “Welcome to the sweet world Lily. Our hearts are more filled than ever. You are our best gift. We love you so much.” The quadruple world champion will not be able to enjoy his new life long, three, however.
Hulkenberg is no longer alone …
If he had missed the media day on Thursday for a good cause, the happy papa had to set sail very quickly on Miami and Florida, where the first free test session await it not only on Friday but also the Sprint qualifications, a sprint race appearing in the program of this necessarily special weekend for “Mad Max” that he wins or not on Saturday during the Grand Prix. With the birth of little Lily Verstappen, they are now two pilots in the 2025 grid to have become dad. Since Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen have left the paddocks, Nico Hulkenberg (37) was the only father still active in the queen category. “Max joins the club,” joked the German on Friday.
