The Formula 1 world is not only an arena of intense rivalry, but also a place where friendships and mutual respect can bloom. A recent example of this is the visit of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc to the house of Red Bull star Max Verstappen in Monaco to celebrate the birth of Verstappen’s daughter, Lily. This heart -warming moment, which took place shortly after the Miami Grand Prix in May 2025, underlines the human side of two of the largest rivals on the circuit. What made the visit extra special was their shared memory of an old kart event, a subject that put their long history together in the spotlight.
Max Verstappen and his partner Kelly Piquet welcomed their daughter Lily between the Grands Prix of Saudi Arabia and Miami. Verstappen, who skipped his media obligations on Thursday in Miami to be at birth, announced the news via Instagram with a moving message: “Welcome to the world, dear Lily. Our hearts are fuller than ever-you are our greatest gift.” The announcement was overloaded with congratulations, including a personal message from Leclerc, who later decided to visit Verstappen at home. This gesture from Leclerc, who often drives Verstappen on the circuit to the limit, shows that their rivalry is especially professional and that there is room for friendship outside the track.
During the visit, which took place in Verstappens’s home in Monaco, the two drivers shared a relaxed moment. According to sources, they not only talked about the joy of Verstappen’s brand new paternity, but also about their shared past in kartsport. Both brought up a specific kart event, a youth match where they raced against each other as teenagers. This event, which took place in the early years 2010, was one of the first times that their paths crossed each other. Although details of the race are not public, it is known that Verstappen and Leclerc recognized each other’s talent at a young age. Their shared memories of that time, full of competition but also pleasure, brought a smile during the visit.
The bond between Verstappen and Leclerc goes further than just rivalry. Both grew up in European go -karts, where they regularly racer each other in championships such as the WSK Euro Series. These early confrontations laid the foundation for their current dynamics in Formula 1, where they often fight wheel-on-wheel. Yet there has always been an underlying respect. Leclerc’s visit to Verstappen is not the first time they show of friendliness. In 2024, after a controversial collision in Austria, both drivers openly spoke about the need to keep their fights sporty, which further strengthened their understanding.
The visit of Leclerc comes at a time when both drivers are in different phases of their career. Verstappen, now four -time world champion, remains a dominant force, despite the rise of McLaren in 2025. His pole position in Miami, only hours after his arrival after Lily’s birth, proved that fatherhood did not reduce his focus. Leclerc, on the other hand, is struggling with a Ferrari who has difficulty keeping up with the pace of McLaren and Red Bull. During the Miami Grand Prix he expressed his frustration about team orders and the lack of speed, but his visit to Verstappen shows that he is not losing sight of his personal values.
The Formula 1 community has responded enthusiastically at the moment of Cameradschap. Fans on social media praised Leclercs gesture, with many who found it refreshing to see how drivers show their humanity. Red Bull team boss Christian Horner, who rather jokingly said that Lily’s Racegenen would be “worth a fortune if she was a rungaard,” the couple also publicly congratulated. Even Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur, who is struggling with the performance of his team, smiled when asked about Leclerc’s visit and called it “a good example of the spirit of the sport”.
This moment between Verstappen and Leclerc reminds us that Formula 1 is more than just speed and rivalry. It is a sport driven by passion, but also by human connections. While Verstappen adapts to life if father and Leclerc continues to fight for Ferrari’s resurrection, their shared history in kartsport remains a symbol of their bond. Who knows, maybe Lily will rise in a kart against a future generation, while her father and his old rival watch from the sidelines.
