Max Verstappen to Miss Miami GP Media Day Due to Birth of… Read more
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will be absent from his scheduled media duties ahead of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix as he awaits the birth of his first child. The Red Bull Racing team confirmed on Thursday that Verstappen will not participate in any media activities, citing the imminent arrival of his baby as the reason.
Red Bull made the announcement just hours before the scheduled press sessions at the Miami International Autodrome. The team emphasized that everything is going well and that Verstappen is expected to return to the paddock on Friday, ready to take part in the race weekend.
“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,” the team stated. “We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”
Verstappen and his partner, Kelly Piquet, reside in Monaco. However, it has not been disclosed where Piquet plans to give birth. The couple has generally kept their personal life private, and the team’s statement reiterated their desire for privacy during this significant moment.
Despite missing Thursday’s media commitments, Verstappen is scheduled to participate in Friday’s on-track action. The Miami Grand Prix is a Sprint weekend, meaning competitive sessions begin earlier than on a standard Grand Prix weekend. Sprint Qualifying is scheduled for Friday evening at 9:30 PM local time, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. Unlike traditional race weekends that begin with practice sessions on Friday, the Sprint format compresses the schedule, making it critical for drivers to be present from the outset of the competitive events.
The three-time world champion is currently chasing his fourth consecutive title but finds himself in third place in the drivers’ standings after the first five races of the 2025 season. While Verstappen has dominated in recent years, this season has presented new challenges and stiffer competition.
Despite the personal milestone potentially disrupting his routine, Verstappen is expected to compete without delay once he returns to the track on Friday. Red Bull will be hoping that his brief absence won’t impact his performance over the weekend, especially given the tight format and the high stakes of every point in the championship race.
As the motorsport world extends congratulations to Verstappen and Piquet, all eyes will be on the Red Bull driver as he balances one of life’s biggest moments with his pursuit of further success on the track.
