Can Max Verstappen win Miami F1 GP to celebrate birth of new child?

A win in Miami this weekend will cap off a special weekend for four-time world champion Max Verstappen, who’s partner Kelly Piquet reportedly is in labour on Friday. 

Verstappen jetted off to Pique’s side and away from media duties in Miami, meaning baby Verstappen hates the media as well. Paternity test sorted, then? 

Neither Verstappen nor Red Bull have confirmed whether the baby has been born, but the team did ask for privacy on the champion’s behalf. 

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton was not shy in congratulating Verstappen on the extension of his family.

“So, I spoke to him briefly in Saudi and saw how excited he was, and big congrats to him. I just wish him all the best. It’s amazing, such a special thing,” Hamilton said on Thursday. 

Verstappen being a dad means he’s the only driver on the grid with a world title and a baby.

Nico Hulkenberg is the only other father on the grid, but let’s face it: he’s not winning the title with Sauber any time soon, is he?

Baby Verstappen will be born into a racing dynasty launched by his/her father when he was just 18-years-old back in the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

With all eyes now set on the Miami paddock, Verstappen will look to avenge his frenemy Lando Norris, who took his maiden Grand Prix win ahead of the Dutch driver last year. 

By the time the drivers had reached Miami last year, Red Bull’s car was acting up with its tyre degradation and balance problems, which have exacerbated this season.

Verstappen was under real threat from Norris in the McLaren, who was hunting his first win. 

A pivotal point of last year’s Miami GP was when Norris emerged as leader from the pits after a stop, while Verstappen, who was leading up to that point, was demoted to second place because he stopped the car under normal conditions.

Norris extended the gap between him and Verstappen and finished in P1, 7.6 seconds ahead of Verstappen to take his maiden chequered flag. 

McLaren have built an even faster car this year, but it’s not just Norris chasing the title.

Their second driver Oscar Piastri has shown more grit this season, and is now the leading contender in the Championship fight. 

Verstappen finished in P2 behind Piastri in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, while both he and Norris chased the young Australian driver on Championship points.

Piastri leads the way on 99 points, while Norris and Verstappen trail with 89 and 88 points respectively.

There’s no telling at this point whether the Aussie can hold the lead and momentum he’s built all the way to the end of the season.

But history has taught that Verstappen will fight until race number 24 on the calendar. 

Perhaps the birth of a new baby can add more to his already raging fire to win?