'Hope' shared for Max Verstappen as birth of first child looms

Nico Hulkenberg has joked that he hopes Max Verstappen's first child is a "good sleeper" as the latter is expecting the imminent arrival.

Verstappen is skipping media day for the Miami Grand Prix with partner Kelly Piquet expected to give birth to their first child together immiently. 

Hulkenberg has been the only father on the F1 grid at the start of the 2025 season, following the departures of Sergio Perez and Kevin Magnussen, with other fathers to have raced recently in F1 including Sebastian Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, Romain Grosjean, and Felipe Massa.

Ahead of the birth, Hulkenberg, whose daughter was born in 2021, joked that he hoped baby Verstappen was a "good sleeper."

"There was a fun fact that since Checo and Kevin left at the end of last year, I was the only dad, so he is joining that club," Hulkenberg told media including RacingNews365.

"I hope it is a good sleeper and we've been quite fortunate and there will be lots to discover, many beautiful and nice things that come with it."

The German was then asked about claims that fathers in F1 tend to lose performance, an idea Hulkenberg rejected.

"Everyone is different, and I can only speak for myself, but I don't feel that is the case," he said.

"Once we step into the car with the visor down, we go out and tend to forget what happens on the outside because we are just focused on performing and maximising. Personally there is an added benefit because it has given me so much outside of work and F1, so it has been helpful for me if anything."

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Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on baby Verstappen

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell also offered their thoughts, with Russell believing there would be no change in Verstappen's approach. 

"It is such a special thing, I spoke to him briefly in Saudi Arabia and saw how excited he was, and a big congratulations to him," said Hamilton, before Russell continued.

"We are all professionals, but this is a personal part of your life, and for anybody who has had a child, it is a pretty special moment, so all the best to them. 

"For many people, it brings things to your life, like when I see my nieces and nephews - they are not my kids - but they bring me so much joy when I spend time with them.

"In the past, you've seen drivers win championships, win races who have got kids, so I don't see a change in anything on a personal level."

The last driver to win a world championship the same year he became a father was Nico Rosberg in 2016.