Max Verstappen has revealed that his family now means more to him than Formula 1 victories, world championships and records. The four-time world champion explained that becoming a father to daughter Lily has fundamentally changed his priorities and made leaving home for race weekends increasingly difficult.
Before heading away on holiday, Max Verstappen gave an exclusive interview to Formule1.nl in which he discussed not only the current Formula 1 season but also his life away from the circuit. The Dutch driver admitted that his outlook has changed considerably since he entered Formula 1 with the sole objective of winning races and building a successful career.
Max Verstappen says family now comes before Formula 1 success
Max Verstappen has built a family with Kelly Piquet, and the arrival of their first child together, Lily, has given his life a different perspective. When asked whether he felt most proud of his world championships, race victories or records, Max Verstappen made it clear that his daughter now takes absolute priority.
“Lily is the little one at home, and she is the most important thing to me,” Max Verstappen said. “Together with Kelly and Penelope, they are the most precious thing I have. Family is worth more than anything.”
Penelope is Kelly Piquet’s daughter from her previous relationship with former Formula 1 driver Daniel Kvyat. Max Verstappen has frequently spoken warmly about his bond with Penelope, while the birth of Lily added another new dimension to his family life.
Fatherhood has changed Max Verstappen’s priorities
When Max Verstappen arrived in Formula 1, his ambitions revolved around winning and accumulating success at the highest level of motorsport. He has since achieved four world championships, numerous Grand Prix victories and a series of records, but those accomplishments no longer define what matters most to him.
Fatherhood has also changed the way Max Verstappen views the sacrifices required by a Formula 1 career. The championship’s demanding international calendar means drivers spend long periods away from home, something the Dutchman is finding increasingly difficult as Lily grows older.
Max Verstappen describes emotional goodbye with daughter Lily
Max Verstappen recalled one particularly difficult moment when he had to leave home while Lily stood beside the lift.
“Before I left, she was standing near the lift in our home,” Max Verstappen explained. “It is not easy when you have to leave and see her standing there as the lift doors close. She had only just woken up, and I had just enough time to cuddle her for a little while before I had to go. It is not pleasant to leave her like that.”
The experience reminded Max Verstappen of his own childhood and the emotional goodbyes he experienced whenever his father, Jos Verstappen, left home to compete in races.
“I remember that when I was a child, I always cried when my father had to leave for races,” Max Verstappen continued. “Now that I am a father, I understand what he felt. But this is a phase that is part of the journey.”
Despite the emotional difficulty of leaving his family, Max Verstappen ended his reflection with a joke about how his relationship with Lily may change as she grows older.
“Sooner or later, it will change and she will not want anything more to do with me,” Max Verstappen said with a laugh. “Then she will say: ‘Dad, please go away.’”
Max Verstappen’s comments offer a more personal insight into a driver usually defined by his uncompromising approach on the circuit. As the Netherlands prepares to celebrate its home hero again at Zandvoort, his influence now extends far beyond his results, with his success credited as the central force behind the Dutch Grand Prix’s Formula 1 revival.
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