Max Verstappen has made it crystal clear that he won't be missing any Formula 1 races this year, even if it clashes with the birth of his first child. The Dutch ace is set to embrace fatherhood for the first time in 2025, with his long-term partner Kelly Piquet announcing in December, just before the season finale at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, they're expecting their first child together.

Piquet, who already has a daughter named Penelope from her previous relationship with ex-Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat, is preparing to welcome another child in the near future, though the due date of Verstappen's first biological child is not yet public knowledge.

As Verstappen gears up to defend his title in the new F1 season, he does so not as the favourite but as a formidable contender. With McLaren reigning as the 2024 constructors' champions and Lando Norris being hailed as a potential challenger for the drivers' crown, Verstappen's Red Bull will need to deliver top performances across the 24-race calendar for him to clinch his fifth consecutive championship.

With that in mind, the 27-year-old has emphatically stated his commitment to the track, as quoted by the Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad: "It's possible, but I won't do it," he said regarding the possibility of missing a race for the birth. "This is just part of being a Formula 1 driver. If it happens, it happens. I can't do anything about it.

"Unfortunately, Formula 1 drivers don't get any free time, but at the same time, I'm not the one who gives birth. Anything is possible, but in Formula 1 that doesn't exist. You can't take two months off. Or I have to be suspended because I have too many penalty points for swearing."

Verstappen went on to talk about his excitement about becoming a father, saying: "But it's hard to put into words as long as the baby isn't here yet. I'm looking forward to it, also to how I'm going to experience it all year. To be honest, I hope not much changes."

Verstappen and his partner Kelly, the daughter of former F1 champion Nelson Piquet, have been together since October 2020.

The couple are not married, though the upcoming addition to their family has led the Dutchman to hint that a wedding could be on the horizon: "Not yet, but it will probably happen soon."

Verstappen is set to travel to Bahrain for three days of pre-season testing, followed by the first race of the year, the Australian Grand Prix, in mid-March.

This article originally appeared on Mirror