If you’re not familiar with Max Verstappen, you haven’t been following one of the greatest seasons in Formula 1 history. Concurrent with this, he’s on an equally thrilling new chapter on the personal front. At 27 years old, only Verstappen has already achieved becoming the third-winningest driver in the sport’s 75-year history. He now trails only legendary champions Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, and Juan Manuel Fangio in titles won. After winning his rookie title in 2021, he has gone on to be a four-time reigning champ.
Earlier this month, Verstappen received his daughter Lily to the world in Monaco. This terrific life blessing has led him to a focus on being present and letting go of what doesn’t matter. His longtime girlfriend, Kelly Piquet, is celebrating this happy news. As Verstappen ventures into the unknown terrain of parenthood, he tries to juggle his racing life with newfound responsibilities. Through that, he thinks about how those experiences inform his work in the broader sport.
Verstappen’s current deal with Red Bull Racing runs through 2028. This commitment ensures that he remains one of the most important pieces to the team for at least three more years. Watch as he candidly speaks about his future in Formula 1 and what it’s like to feel the relentless pressure of being an elite racer. He should because he’s not winning the championship at the moment. Rookie driver Oscar Piastri has already turned in three wins in five races this season, but he keeps his mind on continuing to produce his best race, rather than fixating on the championship picture.
“I come here, do the best I can, go home, do other stuff, then go to the next race, try to do the best I can and go home again,” Verstappen stated. He reminded us that his life experiences were lessons in conserving your energy. He adjusts his schedules and events to not allow championship standings to take over his focus outside of racing.
Verstappen spoke glowingly about the new young drivers coming into the sport, especially Oscar Piastri who had an incredible performance so far. “I have a lot of respect for the young guys that came into the sport, and Oscar is doing a great job,” he remarked. Here, he stressed how crucial it was for him to recognize the gifts of his fellow race competitors. This recognition, he says, simply strengthens his own commitment to “sustainable competitive racing.”
Despite the success he’s achieved, Verstappen doesn’t act like he’s done a whole lot in terms of making Formula 1 better for fans. “You do what you can do to the best of your ability,” he said, referring to the highly competitive nature of the sport and the difficulty of staying at an elite level. “We’re trying to be as competitive as we can be, but at the end of the day, it’s not going to change my life in any way.
His team principal, Christian Horner, has praised Verstappen for his cool under pressure, and his ability to get the job done when it counts. “He’s in his third year, and he’s very solid. He’s very calm in his approach, and I like that,” Horner noted. “It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes, and that’s what you need when you want to fight for a championship.”
In reflecting on his career trajectory, Verstappen stated, “I will do it as long as I enjoy it and I can relate myself to the sport how I want to.” He wants people to understand that having fun and finding balance is key to having a long, productive career in Formula 1.
Verstappen is a guy that races hard at the top level. As he makes adjustments to embrace fatherhood, he remains focused and committed to his ultimate goals on and off the track. He doesn’t picture himself racing well into his golden years, like many of his peers. He knows from experience performance alone won’t determine what happens to him in the future. I recently got a long-term contract through 2028, so definitely at least until then. After that, it really sort of depends some on the types of projects that are out there or not,” he wrapped up.
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