Max Verstappen has indicated his hope that his daughter, Lily, will engage in water sports in the future. The Red Bull driver made the statement during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend at the new Madring circuit in Madrid. This follows previous remarks where Verstappen has outlined his views on his daughter’s potential career path.
Lily Verstappen, born on April 25, 2025, recently celebrated her first birthday. Verstappen has consistently stated that he does not wish for her to become a racing driver, preferring her to choose her own interests. He emphasizes the importance of sport in life, but not necessarily Formula 1.
The Spanish Grand Prix is currently underway, with free practice sessions having concluded on Friday, September 11, 2026. Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli recorded the fastest time in FP2 at the Madring circuit, clocking a 1:33.662. George Russell, also from Mercedes, led FP1 with a 1:34.077.
Verstappen finished sixth in both free practice sessions. In FP1, he was 0.626 seconds behind Russell, and in FP2, he was 0.401 seconds adrift of Antonelli. The atmosphere within Red Bull Racing was reported to be improved following the Friday sessions in Madrid.
Laurent Mekies serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Team Principal of Oracle Red Bull Racing. He assumed this role in July 2025, succeeding Christian Horner. Mekies previously led the Visa Cash App RB Formula One Team before his appointment to the senior Red Bull outfit.
Verstappen recently extended his contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of the 2030 season. The announcement of this extension was made on August 20, 2026, securing his long-term commitment to the team.
The four-time world champion has been vocal regarding the 2026 F1 car regulations. He has criticized the current cars for being ‘numb’ to driver inputs due to extensive energy management requirements. Verstappen has expressed a preference for a return to V8 engines for improved drivability.
He believes the current regulations limit a driver’s ability to be rewarded for commitment, such as late braking and early throttle application. Verstappen has suggested that the emphasis on electrical power and battery deployment makes racing feel unnatural.
‘It has to go back to a V8, just for drivability already. When you drive the old cars, you cannot imagine the difference in how the engine responds, or the drivability you get. And how terrible or horrible it actually is now compared to just having a V8,’ Verstappen stated.
These comments align with his broader critique of the 2026 technical framework, advocating for lighter cars and a reduced role for battery power in overall performance.
