Max Verstappen has made it clear he won't step away from any races, even as his girlfriend Kelly gears up to welcome their first child.
The Dutch ace recently shared that the baby—thought to be a girl—is expected "not before the start of the season." Word has it the due date aligns with the season's kickoff in Australia around 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 probed on how fatherhood might alter him, he replied: "To be honest, I hope not much."
Whispers suggest Verstappen might activate an escape clause in his Red Bull deal after this year, possibly wary of the team's brand-new engine venture, especially after shots surfaced of him piloting a Verstappen.com-branded Aston Martin GT3 at Paul Ricard.
He acknowledges some unease about the Red Bull-Ford power unit slated 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."
Despite Red Bull's rocky 2024 marked by infighting and a dip in form, Verstappen maintains he's content there. "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."
