Christian Horner, principal of the Red Bull Formula 1 team, does not expect Max Verstappen to change after his first father.
Four-time world champion Verstappen announced the birth of her first child with partner Kelly Pique on Friday ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
The 27-year-old Dutch arrived late in Miami after skipping Thursday’s Media Day and witnessing the birth of her daughter Lily.
In response to the news, Red Bull team boss Horner pointed out the “incredible” genes where Lily is Verstappen’s daughter and grandson of three-time world champion Nelson Piquet.
“He’s going to be a very current father,” Horner said at a FIA press conference on Friday.
“You have to be involved. You have to be involved in the diaper. You have to be involved in the night, etc.
“It’s the most wonderful thing, and I welcome new additions to any family, and now life is very different for him in many ways.
“I’m just thinking about that child’s genes. It’s really great considering Verstappen and Piquet.
“If it were a racehorse, it would be worth a lot of money, but it would make life a little different for him.”
Totowolf, principal of the Mercedes team, added:
“But he could see what I could see with his stepdaughter. I’m sure he’ll be a great, great father.”
Will Max Verstappen change?
Asked if he thought Verstappen would change as a result of becoming the second F1 father driver on the current grid. “I don’t think so. He’s a pretty measured guy.
“He’s been very measured. He obviously enjoys family life and I think it’s business as usual for him.
“He is clearly very proud and it’s great that he and Kelly welcome a baby girl. It’s another achievement in life, a different perspective. It’s great for him and his family.”
Horner added: “He has been operating at such a high level for a long time. Even until 2021, 2020, he continues to surprise us, and surprise us at the level he can hit and achieve.”
Horner pushed on what impressed him the most about Burstappen.
“When you’re really back to the wall, the final set of tires in Q3 is a huge pressure point for great people to really step up, and that’s what we see with him and again and again.
“We’re comfortable in that zone and deliveries on an incredible level.”