Max Verstappen reveals 'greatest prize' in life

Max Verstappen has opened up about fatherhood, revealing that daughter Lily is the most important thing in his life.

The four-time world champion and 71-time grand prix winner may have achieved almost everything there is to achieve in Formula 1, but the Red Bull driver says none of it compares to what awaits him at home.

Asked what his greatest prize is, Verstappen told Formule1.nl: "It's that little one at home. That's the best and most important thing. Our daughter Lily is my greatest prize. Family is by far the most important thing to me."

Verstappen and partner Kelly Piquet welcomed Lily in April 2025, and the now 15-month-old is already making her father's race-weekend departures increasingly difficult.

"It's starting to hit me now," said Verstappen. "For example, when I flew here [to Hungary], my little one was standing by the elevator at home as I got in to go downstairs. 

"And then the doors closed. That's not a very nice feeling. She had just woken up. I'd taken her out of bed and given her a little hug, and then I had to go. Those aren't fun moments when you have to leave. You know it's just part of it. 

"And I know I did the same thing when I was little and my dad left the house, crying and all that. My dad always found that difficult, too."

Like father, like son

The parallel with father Jos is a poignant one. Jos Verstappen spent a decade on the F1 grid between 1994 and 2003, racing for seven different teams across 106 grand prix starts. 

He knows all too well the sacrifices that come with life as a travelling racing driver, and Max is now experiencing the same emotional tug that once pulled at his father.

Still, Verstappen is taking it all in his stride, aware that the dynamics of parenthood shift quickly.

"This is just a phase that's part of life," added Verstappen. At some point, it'll turn around, and she won't want anything to do with me anymore. Then she'll say, 'Dad, please go away.'"