Verstappen will not skip race for child’s birth

Max Verstappen says he will not be sitting out a single race even though his girlfriend Kelly is preparing to give birth to their first child together.

The Dutch driver recently revealed that the baby – believed to be a girl – is due not before the start of the season. Reports indicate the child’s actual due date is around the time of the season opener in Australia in mid-March.

It’s possible, but I won’t do it, said the quadruple world champion when asked if he might choose to sit out a race so he doesn’t miss the birth.

This is just part of being a Formula 1 driver, he is quoted as saying by Algemeen Dagblad. “If it happens, it happens. I can’t do anything about it.

Unfortunately, Formula 1 drivers don’t get free time like that, but at the same time, I’m not the one who gives birth. Or maybe I will be suspended because I have too many penalty points for swearing, Verstappen laughed.

When asked how being a father might change him, he answered: To be honest, I hope not much.

Amid rumours Verstappen could trigger an exit clause in his Red Bull contract after this season, perhaps to avoid the debut of the team’s all-new engine project, photos have emerged of him testing a Verstappen.com-liveried Aston Martin GT3 car at Paul Ricard.

He admits he has a few concerns about the Red Bull-Ford engine for 2026 and beyond.

Of course there are question marks, said the 27-year-old. “It’s a new manufacturer so naturally there are question marks in your mind and I think everyone has that, right?

I’m not saying it’s going to be very easy to be competitive straight away, but I believe we can do a good job and I believe what people are saying, Verstappen added.

I could be stressed about it, but wouldn’t that just be a waste of energy? I don’t want to worry too much about life anymore. If it’s no good, it’s no good. If it’s good, it’s good. I just have to get on with life.

Red Bull was mired in internal conflict and a performance decline in 2024, but Verstappen insists he is still happy at the team. Red Bull feels like my second family, he said.

I can be completely myself within the team and that is very important to me. It seems like we have a bit more fun than the average team on the grid and I think that is also very important.