Max Verstappen Misses Media Day for Expected Birth of First Child

Miami, Florida – Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula 1 world champion, will skip his scheduled media day at the Miami Grand Prix on Thursday due to the expected birth of his first child with his partner, Kelly Piquet. Red Bull Racing confirmed his absence just hours before he was set to meet with the press.

In a statement, Red Bull said, “Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby. All is well and he will attend track tomorrow for the race weekend. We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”

Reports indicate that Piquet, the daughter of three-time F1 champion Nelson Piquet, is heavily pregnant and has a daughter, Penelope, from a previous relationship. The couple’s joyous news was shared on social media prior to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last December, where they revealed they were expecting.

Although Verstappen missed the media commitments, he is anticipated to arrive in time for the practice sessions and race weekend. The Miami Grand Prix features a Sprint format, with competitive activities commencing on Friday evening. Verstappen is currently third in the drivers’ standings, trailing the championship leader by 12 points.

Flight tracking data showed that Verstappen’s private jet left Nice, France, on Thursday afternoon, indicating he is en route to Miami. Fans remain excited about his upcoming participation in the race amid the significant life event unfolding.

Red Bull has requested privacy for the family as they await the new arrival, and the Formula 1 community respects this wish as Verstappen prepares for one of the most momentous events in his life.