Max Verstappen reveals the one thing about fatherhood he loves most as F1 star opens up on daughter Lily

Max Verstappen has opened up about life as a father and revealed the part of raising his daughter Lily that means the most to him. The four-time Formula 1 world champion spoke about fatherhood during an appearance on P1 with Matt and Tommy. Verstappen said watching Lily grow and learn new things has become one of his favourite parts of life away from the F1 paddock.The Red Bull driver has always been known for his intense focus on racing. However, becoming a father has given him a different perspective. Verstappen said having a family to return to has made him calmer and helped him understand that there is more to life than Formula 1.Max Verstappen says watching daughter Lily grow is his favourite part of fatherhoodMax Verstappen said he particularly enjoys watching Lily develop as a person. He explained that every time he returns home from an F1 weekend, she has often learned something new.He said, “Honestly, watching her grow and her calling me by my name. Every weekend when I come back home, she’s learning new things, and yes, watching her evolve as a human being, in a way you don’t want her to grow up, you want her to stay like that, but you also want to see how she grows, it’s really nice.”The moment has given Verstappen a new appreciation for the small parts of family life. He admitted there is a strange feeling that comes with watching a child grow.He wants Lily to stay young and enjoy the stage she is in. At the same time, he is excited to see the person she will become.Verstappen has previously spoken openly about wanting to become a father. He said having a daughter has been a very special experience and has changed his outlook away from the racetrack.“I always knew I wanted to have children, so having a daughter now is great. I enjoy it a lot,” Verstappen said last year. “It probably also makes you a little more calm in life, more responsible, and makes you realize there’s more to life than just Formula 1.”For a driver whose career has been built around winning, Verstappen also made it clear that family has become more important than his achievements in motorsport.“Seeing your child for the first time, like your little baby, that’s something very special. Seeing your family happy, having a good time, living a good life; for me that’s way more important than whatever we achieve in motorsport”, he added.Fatherhood has also given Verstappen experience through his relationship with Kelly Piquet and her daughter Penelope. He has been part of Penelope’s life since she was young, giving him an early experience of being a bonus dad.Despite the changes at home, Verstappen has rejected the idea that becoming a father has affected his speed or competitive mindset in F1. He has described suggestions that parenthood makes a driver slower as “absolute bullshit.”His PlayStation may have received less attention since Lily’s arrival, but Verstappen remains fully committed to his racing career!Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.