F1 News Today: Max Verstappen absent at Miami Grand Prix as Christian Horner blamed for….read more 

F1 News Today: Max Verstappen absent at Miami Grand Prix as Christian Horner blamed for….read more 

Max Verstappen, the reigning Formula One world champion, was notably absent from the pre-race press activities for the Miami Grand Prix. His absence was due to personal reasons, as he remained in Europe to support his partner, Kelly Piquet, who is expecting their first child. Piquet, the daughter of former F1 champion Nelson Piquet, is due to give birth in early May, and Verstappen chose to stay by her side during this important moment. Although he missed the mandatory media day, it has been confirmed that Verstappen will still participate in the Grand Prix, traveling to Miami shortly before the race weekend officially begins.

This development comes amid ongoing tension within the Red Bull Racing team. Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, has been vocal about his disapproval of team principal Christian Horner. Jos warned that Red Bull could face internal division and long-term damage if Horner continues in his leadership role. These comments followed a controversial internal investigation into Horner, centered around allegations of inappropriate behavior. Though Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing, leaked messages related to the case have continued to stir unrest within the team and the F1 community.

Despite these internal issues, Red Bull maintains a united public front. Horner has reiterated that the team’s success depends on collective effort and emphasized that no individual, no matter how prominent, is more important than the team itself. His comments appear to be directed subtly at the Verstappen camp, amid rumors that Max could consider leaving Red Bull in the future if tensions remain unresolved.

Meanwhile, Verstappen is focused on keeping his championship hopes alive. Heading into the Miami Grand Prix, he is currently ranked third in the drivers’ standings with 87 points, trailing McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and teammate Lando Norris. The Miami weekend features a packed schedule, including a sprint race format: Friday hosts the single practice session and sprint qualifying, Saturday includes the 100km sprint and standard qualifying, followed by the main Grand Prix event on Sunday at the Hard Rock Stadium circuit.

Verstappen and Piquet have been together since 2020 and announced their pregnancy late last year. Piquet already has a daughter from a previous relationship with former F1 driver Daniil Kvyat. As the couple prepares to welcome their child, Verstappen finds himself balancing the responsibilities of impending fatherhood with the demands of a highly competitive racing season.

This moment marks both a personal milestone and a challenging professional period for Verstappen, as he aims to secure another victory while navigating the pressures within his team.