Verstappen explains why his daughter Lily is staying away from the Formula 1 paddock – The Dutchman has opened up about life as a father and revealed why his daughter Lily will not be appearing in the Formula 1 paddock for the foreseeable future.
The four-time world champion says protecting her privacy and allowing her to enjoy a normal childhood are his top priorities as she grows up.
Verstappen and his partner, Kelly Piquet, welcomed their first daughter in 2025. Although the Dutchman had already experienced family life as a stepfather to Piquet’s daughter Penelope from a previous relationship, he says that becoming a father has given him a new outlook on life and parenting.
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Verstappen wants Lily to make her own choices
Speaking about his approach to raising his daughter, Verstappen stressed the importance of allowing children to develop their own interests rather than pushing them towards a particular path. An interesting take when considering his own upbringing, heavily shaped by his father and former F1 driver Jos Verstappen.
“The most important thing for me is that she always remains herself,” he said.
The Red Bull driver believes that parents should avoid directing their children towards specific careers or sporting ambitions from an early age.
“She has to decide for herself what she likes to do.”
While Verstappen acknowledged that introducing children to different activities can be beneficial, he insisted that the final decision should always rest with the child.
“You can introduce a child to certain sports, but ultimately they have to choose for themselves.”
Family values remain a priority
The reigning world champion also emphasised the importance of family relationships and empathy when discussing the values he hopes to pass on to his daughter, Lily.
“It is important to be good to your family,” he said.
According to Verstappen, understanding and appreciating the people around you is an essential life lesson.
“You have to realise that not everyone will be around forever.”
These comments offer a rare insight into Verstappen’s personal life, as the Dutchman usually prefers to keep family matters out of the public eye. Furthermore, the recent rally accident that Max’s father, Jos Verstappen, suffered in recent weeks, likely brought home how loved ones could be taken away suddenly.
Why Lily will not be seen in the F1 paddock
Despite growing up around motorsport as the son of former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, he has no intention of placing his own daughter in the spotlight at an early age.
The 28-year-old has revealed that he is deliberately avoiding sharing photos of Lily on social media, as he wants her to have the freedom to decide later in life whether she wants to be a public figure.
“I don’t want to put her in the picture right now. She has to make that choice herself later.”
The same reasoning extends to Formula 1 race weekends.
“That is why I don’t want to take her to the paddock right now.”
Privacy comes before Formula 1
Verstappen cited two key reasons for keeping Lily away from the F1 environment during her early years.
Firstly, he believes she is simply too young to remember the experience.
“She won’t remember it anyway.”
More importantly, however, he feels that young children deserve privacy and the opportunity to enjoy a carefree upbringing away from constant public attention.
“A baby or young child should simply be able to lead a carefree life.”
These comments reflect a growing trend among high-profile athletes and celebrities who choose to limit their children’s exposure to social media and public events. For Verstappen, it appears to be far more important to ensure that Lily can make her own decisions about public life in the future than to introduce her to the Formula 1 paddock at an early age.
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Clara Marlowe is a Formula 1 writer at TJ13 with over 15 years of experience in motorsport journalism, having contributed features to established sports magazines such as Evo, MCN, Wisden Cricket Monthly and other digital outlets.
Clara specialises in human-interest storytelling, focusing on the individuals behind the sport, including drivers, engineers, and team personnel whose roles are often overlooked in mainstream coverage.
At TJ13, Clara contributes long-form features and narrative-driven pieces that explore the personal and professional journeys within Formula 1. This includes coverage of career-defining moments, internal team dynamics, and the human impact of high-pressure competition.
Clara’s work brings depth and perspective to the sport, complementing news and analysis with stories that highlight the people behind the machinery.
Clara has a particular interest in how personal narratives intersect with performance, and how individual experiences shape outcomes across a Formula 1 season.
