Max Verstappen plans to "do it differently" from his father when it comes to guiding his children into the motorsport world one day.
The double Formula 1 world champion, 25, currently has no children. But fatherhood is certainly on the cards in the future for the Dutchman, who admits he would like to have children of his own one day.
Given he followed in the footsteps of his own father Jos, himself a former F1 racer, to pursue a career in motorsport, it is not beyond the realms of the imagination to suggest Verstappen's own future children may want to do the same.
The Red Bull star is open to allowing that – but he already knows one thing he wants to do differently to his father. While Jos was very demanding of Max when it came to wanting him to live out his F1 dream, the 25-year-old is adamant he will not be doing the same thing.
"I definitely want kids and if they want to race, that's fine," the Dutchman told De Limburger. "I do think I would do it differently than how my father and I did it. I don't see that at the moment. But it's easy for me to talk because I don't have kids. Maybe I'll think very differently when the time comes.
"But, the passion he had went very far. He did everything for me. Tuning engines, preparing karts. I don't see myself doing that. In any case, I'm not going to push my kids to race. They have to want it themselves.
"And if you do go all out with your son or daughter, then you can no longer drive in Formula 1 yourself, I think. You have to start laying the foundation from the age of four. I want to be there myself."
That last statement implies Verstappen will have finished his F1 career by the time he has a toddler in his life. That would be in-keeping with previous statements about his own future – despite his success, the Red Bull racer has made it clear he plans to retire earlier than many others in his position might.
A major factor in that is the workload required and, with a record season of minimum 23 race weekends looming in 2023, Verstappen has an obvious example to point to. He added: "I have often indicated that this is too much and the main reason that I will not continue to do this until I turn 40.
"Travelling a lot and stuff, that's just not healthy. I still really like it now, but you have to give up a lot for it. That sounds crazy because driving Formula 1 is of course a dream for many people, but it really is. You are very far away from home and from the people you love. There comes a time when you are done with that."
