F1 News Today: Max Verstappen absent at Miami Grand Prix as Christian Horner blamed for Red Bull exit… read more
F1 News Today: Verstappen Skips Miami Press Duties Amid Baby Arrival as Horner Faces Internal Criticism
By Hugo Harvey
Red Bull Racing have confirmed that Max Verstappen will not participate in media activities ahead of the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, as the Dutch driver is currently expecting the birth of his first child with partner Kelly Piquet. The team issued a brief statement on Thursday, noting Verstappen’s absence from pre-race press conferences while assuring fans that he remains in good spirits and will be present for the race weekend.
“Max will not be attending media day in Miami as he is expecting a baby,” the official Red Bull announcement stated. “All is well and he will attend 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.”
The three-time world champion, currently third in the standings, has openly expressed his excitement about becoming a father, though he has also joked about the challenges of enduring sleepless nights once the baby arrives. While speculation had previously hinted that Verstappen might sit out one or more races to focus on fatherhood, he has dismissed such claims, maintaining that he intends to continue competing without interruption.
Verstappen’s non-appearance at Thursday’s media sessions was not entirely unexpected. Formula 1 frequently rotates which drivers speak to the press during race weekends. On this occasion, Lando Norris, Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and Yuki Tsunoda were among those selected to represent their teams in front of the media.
The press conference schedule included:
Thursday 12:30 GMT: Pierre Gasly (Alpine), Lando Norris (McLaren), Yuki Tsunoda (Red Bull)
Thursday 13:00 GMT: Lewis Hamilton (Ferrari), Nico Hülkenberg (Sauber), George Russell (Mercedes)
Friday 13:30 GMT: Oliver Oakes (Alpine), Christian Horner (Red Bull), Toto Wolff (Mercedes)
Verstappen’s last interaction with journalists came after the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. In that race, he was handed a five-second penalty early on, which led to him relinquishing the lead to Oscar Piastri. The Australian capitalized on the opportunity to claim his third win of the season and take over the top spot in the drivers’ standings.
Clearly frustrated by the stewarding decision, Verstappen refused to offer a detailed post-race assessment, suggesting that silence was in everyone’s best interest—particularly the FIA’s. This wasn’t the first time the reigning champion has clashed with the sport’s governing body. He had previously criticized their stance on driver language restrictions and was handed a community service-style penalty last year for inappropriate remarks.
Despite past tensions with officials, Verstappen’s current focus is on his family as the birth of “baby Verstappen” nears. Nevertheless, he remains committed to Red Bull’s campaign, especially during what has been a challenging season by his standards. With only one win under his belt so far in 2025, Verstappen heads to Miami eager to climb the standings.
Meanwhile, Red Bull principal Christian Horner is expected to speak to the media on Friday amid ongoing internal scrutiny. Rumors have swirled in recent weeks suggesting that Horner’s leadership has caused friction within the team, raising questions about Red Bull’s stability and long-term structure.
With a vital weekend ahead both personally and professionally, Verstappen’s return to the track in Miami will be closely watched as the title race continues to intensify.
