Max Verstappen's 2025 season is set to proceed seamlessly, despite the imminent arrival of his first child with Kelly Piquet.
Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko assured Kronen Zeitung newspaper that the due date aligns neatly with a gap in the hectic Formula 1 schedule. "The birth date does not clash with any of Max's races," he said.
"It's planned for the beginning of May."
Verstappen, riding high after his pole-to-win performance at Suzuka, nonetheless downplayed championship talk. "I'm just thinking about making my car faster right now," he said. "If we can't get more speed out of it, we don't need to be talking about the title."
Marko echoed the sentiment, telling Kleine Zeitung: "The car still needs more balance and still understeers too much right in the middle of the corner, which Max doesn't like at all. If we can get that right, he'll be able to do completely different things. That's exactly what we're working on. We can't say when or how that will happen yet."
A potential breakthrough might be near, with social media buzzing over images of the ongoing and clever 'mini-DRS' rear wing flex on the McLaren—shared even by Max's father, Jos. "I've seen the videos, but I don't make the rules," the 27-year-old four-time champion, Max, said in Bahrain.
Verstappen's title hopes are also aided by the intra-team rivalry at McLaren, where Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are splitting points despite piloting the grid's fastest car. "We're happy when they take points away from each other," Marko grinned.
"I do think Piastri is mentally stronger, even if Norris is faster on one lap."
Norris faced queries in Bahrain about Verstappen's post-Suzuka quip that he'd dominate 2025 in McLaren's orange car. Verstappen doubled down: "I was not joking."
Norris fired back: "I don't care, he can say whatever he wants. I would love it if he came to test our car. And I'm curious to see the disappointment on his face when he gets out."
