‘My Greatest Achievement’: Max Verstappen Opens Up on Hardship of Leaving Daughter Lily Behind as Partner Kelly Piquet Shares Sun-Soaked Holiday Photos Ahead of Zandvoort Return
Four-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen and his long-time partner Kelly Piquet are enjoying the final stretch of the sport’s mandatory summer break, relaxing with family and friends in Portugal before the competitive calendar resumes. With the mid-season shutdown reaching its halfway point, drivers across the grid are taking full advantage of the opportunity to unwind, recharge, and spend quality time away from the intense media spotlight. For Verstappen, the holiday period has provided a cherished chance to bond with his young daughter, Lily, born ahead of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Piquet took to social media to share a series of heartwarming photographs from their Mediterranean getaway, capturing idyllic beach moments with Lily as the family prepares for the upcoming Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort, Verstappen’s high-stakes home race.
As Lily passes her first birthday and begins to interact more actively with her surroundings, Verstappen has opened up about the emotional toll that his relentless racing schedule takes on him as a father. Speaking candidly in an interview with Formule 1 Magazine, the Red Bull Racing star admitted that while winning world titles remains his professional duty, his family life holds far greater significance than any trophy or record achieved on the track. Declaring his daughter to be his proudest accomplishment to date, the Dutchman reflected on how becoming a father has fundamentally shifted his perspective on life away from the paddock.
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
“Our daughter Lily is my greatest achievement. Family is the most important thing to me anyway,” Max Verstappen revealed during his candid interview with Formule 1 Magazine.
Emotional Departures: The Pain of Leaving Lily at the Elevator Doors
Now over a year old and becoming increasingly aware of her father’s frequent departures, Lily has made saying goodbye prior to Grand Prix weekends noticeably more difficult for the reigning World Champion. Verstappen detailed a particularly poignant moment that occurred just before he boarded a flight to a recent race, describing the lingering heartache of watching his daughter stand at the elevator doors inside their family residence as he set off for the airport.
The Red Bull driver confessed that leaving home after morning cuddles becomes emotionally challenging when a young child starts to realize her parent is departing for extended periods. Despite recognizing that constant international travel is an inevitable requirement of his profession, Verstappen admitted that the psychological weight of those quiet goodbyes never grows any easier to bear.
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
“Yes, that is starting to happen now. For example, when I flew here, the little one was standing by the elevator at home when I got in to go down. And then the doors close; well, that’s not a very nice feeling,” Verstappen explained. “She had just woken up. I had taken her out of bed and cuddled her a bit, and then I had to leave. Those aren’t nice moments when you have to leave. You know it’s part of the deal.”
Like Father, Like Son: Generational Echoes of Jos Verstappen’s Racing Legacy
The emotional challenge of leaving home to compete internationally is a familiar dynamic for Verstappen, who grew up experiencing the exact same scenario from a child’s perspective. His father, former Formula 1 driver Jos Verstappen, spent years traveling the global circuit during Max’s early childhood, leaving behind a young family who struggled with the frequent separations required by high-level motorsport.
Reflecting on his own childhood memories, the four-time champion noted the poignant symmetry between his current experience as a father and the tears he shed years ago when watching his own father pack his bags for race weekends. Understanding firsthand the emotional weight his father carried during those years has given Verstappen a deeper appreciation for the personal sacrifices inherent to a professional racing career.
“I know I did that myself when I was little and my father left home. Crying and stuff. My father always found that difficult too,” Verstappen recalled, drawing parallels between his childhood and his current role as a father.
Eyes on Zandvoort: Returning to the Home Crowd at the Dutch Grand Prix
With just a week and a half remaining until the Formula 1 circus reconvenes in the Netherlands, Verstappen’s focus will soon shift back to defending his title on home soil at the Zandvoort circuit. The Dutch Grand Prix remains one of the most anticipated events on the racing calendar, where tens of thousands of passionate “Orange Army” supporters gather to cheer on their local hero.
For now, however, the Red Bull star is prioritizing his time in Portugal with Kelly Piquet and young Lily, absorbing every moment of domestic tranquility before stepping back into the cockpit. As the second half of the championship campaign approaches, Verstappen balances the relentless demands of world-class competition with the grounded joy of family life, eager to deliver another memorable performance for his home crowd at Zandvoort.
