Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet announce birth of baby ahead of Miami Grand Prix

Max Verstappen and partner Kelly Piquet have welcomed their first child together, with the couple confirming the arrival of a baby girl.

Ahead of media day at the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull confirmed that Verstappen would be absent “as he is expecting a baby”, with the message adding that “all is well and he will attend track tomorrow [Friday] for the race weekend”.

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It has since been announced that Verstappen and Piquet welcomed a baby daughter named Lily.

Verstappen and Piquet first confirmed that they were expecting ahead of the 2024 season finale in Abu Dhabi, with the new addition becoming a younger sibling to Piquet’s daughter, Penelope.

The baby’s arrival means that Verstappen is now the second father on the Formula 1 grid alongside Nico Hulkenberg, who shares daughter Noemi Sky with wife Eglė Ruskyte.

Asked on media day in Miami if he had any words of advice for Verstappen as a new parent, the Kick Sauber driver responded: “I hope it’s a good sleeper.

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“We’ve been quite fortunate and lucky. But yeah, I think there’s lots to discover – many beautiful, nice things that come with that. So yeah, I’m sure he’ll enjoy it.”

Seated alongside Hulkenberg in the press conference were Lewis Hamilton and George Russell, two men who know what it is like to go head-to-head with Verstappen on the track.

SUZUKA, JAPAN - APRIL 06: Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing and Nico — Verstappen has become the second father on the F1 grid alongside Hulkenberg

When quizzed on whether they expected fatherhood to change the reigning World Champion as a person and a driver, Hamilton answered: “I just wish him all the best. It’s such an amazing, special thing. I spoke to him briefly in Saudi and saw how excited he was. Big congrats to him.”

Russell, meanwhile, added: “I think we’re all professionals, but this is a personal part of your life. I guess for anyone who’s had a kid, it’s a pretty special moment. So yeah, all the best to him. As Nico says, I think for many people it probably brings things to your life.

“I know what it’s like when I see my nieces and nephews – they’re not my kids, but they bring me so much joy when I spend time with them. And you’ve seen drivers in the past win championships and races who’ve got kids, so I don’t see it changing anything on his professional level.”