(Motorsport-Total.com) – On the racetrack, Max Verstappen shows no mercy, chasing record after record. But off the paddock, the clocks in the life of the four-time champion now tick differently. For just over a year, Verstappen has been the father of little Lily. A role that visibly shapes the Dutchman—and in which he has very clear ideas about the values he wants to impart to his daughter.
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“For me, the most important thing is: always be yourself,” Verstappen makes clear to Telegraaf. He has no use for the classic “ambitious dad” who pushes the child in a certain direction. “As far as I’m concerned, she can completely decide for herself what she wants to do later or not.”
Although the world champion generally supports sports—”to stay healthy, and it keeps you off the streets, you do fewer stupid things”—coercion is taboo for him. “There are many parents who want to push their child in a certain direction, for example in sports. That’s exactly what you shouldn’t do. You can introduce a child to certain sports, but in the end, they have to choose themselves.”
Besides personal freedom, the 26-year-old values the family foundation above all: “I think it’s important to be kind to family. And to sometimes remind yourself that not everyone is there forever. You have to be compassionate, especially with the people around you.”
The dark side of fame: Why Lily is not in the paddock
As the son of former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, Max himself grew up in the spotlight. But times have changed—social media has made the world more digital but also more ruthless. A topic that occupies the Dutchman intensely. His consequence is drastic: Lily is strictly kept away from the Formula 1 world.
“I don’t want to have her in the picture now,” he explains the decision. “She has to decide for herself later whether she wants that or not. That’s why I don’t want her in the paddock right now.” The reasons for this are purely rational and protective for him: “First, she won’t remember it later anyway, but it’s also about privacy. A baby or small child should lead a carefree life.”
The changed Formula 1 rhythm: Just quickly home
This new priority in the champion’s life is also reflected in his schedule. Verstappen tries to keep the already stressful race weekends as short as possible to spend every free minute at home.
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“Yes, I only flew here Wednesday morning. Right after landing, I had my first commitment,” he explains the tight schedule. “I probably would have arrived on Tuesday before. And I usually fly home as quickly as possible after the race.” With the mammoth calendar of the top class, every day counts: “I’m already away so much, also with the other races outside Formula 1. The rest of the time, I try to be at home as much as possible.”
Tears at the front door: Memories of Dad Jos
Lily is still small, but Verstappen is aware that goodbyes will become more emotional in the future. They are memories of his own childhood catching up with him. He knows exactly what it’s like when the father travels around the world for work.
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“I can still remember well how it was when my father left for the Formula 1 races. I didn’t like that either,” Verstappen admits. The pain of separation was so great back then that Jos Verstappen had to resort to drastic measures.
“Sometimes he sneaked away secretly, literally through the back door. Because I really found it terrible, I just cried. Of course, that was also very unpleasant for my father. But it’s part of it.”
That the balancing act between racing and family can also be used positively in 2026 was recently shown at the race weekend in Miami. There, Verstappen achieved the perfect combination of work and family time: “My mother and my sister were there, but also my girlfriend Kelly and Lily were there. After that, we went on vacation for a few days. That was wonderful.”