In the lead-up to the Miami Grand Prix, Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton revealed the message he had delivered to Max Verstappen regarding his soon-to-be-born child.
Verstappen missed media day on Thursday at the Miami Grand Prix due to the birth of his first child.
Due to Max and his partner Kelly Piquet requesting privacy regarding their child, little is known about when the baby is expected, nor is there information on the gender.
Red Bull Racing released a statement regarding his absence:
“Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby,” the statement read.
“All is well, and he will attend [the] track tomorrow for the race weekend. We will not be offering any further comment at this time in respect towards the privacy of Max and his family.”
However, Hamilton was present on one media day and asked if the new baby would distract the driver, to which Hamilton refused to answer.
The seven-time World Champion offered details regarding a conversation Hamilton had with Verstappen.
“So I spoke to him briefly in Saudi and saw how excited he was, and big congrats to him,” Hamilton said to the media.
“I just wish him all the best. It’s an amazing, such a special thing.”
With the arrival of his newborn, Verstappen would become the second father in Formula 1, with Nico Hulkenberg being the only other father actively on the grid.
Hulkenberg dismissed the notion that having a child affects a racing driver’s performance out on track.
“Everyone is obviously different, but personally, I don’t feel that’s the case,” Hulkenberg said, according to Planet F1’s Elizabeth Blackstock.
“I feel once we step in the car – visor down, go out – even for me, I tend to forget what goes on outside because we’re just so focused and so driven to perform and maximize.
“I just personally feel it’s added benefit because it’s giving me so much outside of work and outside of being in Formula 1. So I would even say it’s kind of been helpful for me, if anything.”
Verstappen is still expected to participate in the Miami GP. He will look to take his second win of the season after nearly missing out on victory last time out in Saudi Arabia.
The Red Bull RB21 remains a confusing car, as it has been all over the place regarding its pace, at times being the fourth fastest car and other times being the outright fastest.
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