Max Verstappen has revealed that his one-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Lily, beginning to notice when he leaves for Formula One race weekends will influence his future in the sport, as he wants to watch his children grow up. The four-time world champion signed a contract extension with Red Bull until the end of the 2030 season in August, ending months of speculation about his career.
The 29-year-old told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf: "I can already see that my daughter starts to notice when I leave. So even now I try to do that when she doesn't realise it. That will also be a consideration later when it comes to my future. I don't just want to be away, and want to see my own children grow up, because once they are eighteen, there is a chance that they will say 'bye' and close the door behind them."
Verstappen admits near-breaking point
Verstappen, who had his first child with long-term partner Kelly Piquet in April last year, also acknowledged he came close to walking away from Red Bull. He said: "I was really on the brink, especially in the first weekends of this season, I never had a feeling like that before."
Despite recent improvements in results, his routine after races remains unchanged. "After a race, I always try to go home immediately on Sunday evening, to spend as much time as possible at home," he said.
Paddock 'like a zoo'
Verstappen also described the paddock as "like a zoo", saying it is often impossible to have a proper conversation. "It is often no longer possible to have a chat with someone, that's not really possible anymore, so I mainly live from my room to the garage and the pit lane," he said.
He added: "Even in our own hospitality rooms, there are many guests who want something from you. Of course, they mean well, but I also need to be able to rest without being bothered all the time. I know it's part of it, and that the more you perform and the more you've achieved, the more people want you to be. In that respect, it is also a good thing."
Speaking about returning home to Kelly Piquet and Lily, Verstappen explained: "When she's asleep, I don't wake her up; then, of course, I just leave her, but I often go to check on her, without disturbing her. As soon as she's awake, I want to spend as much time as possible with her."
