17.07.2026 Interview with Play Sports
You became a father last year. I did too, in September. You're having a special first child. Everyone always says that. It changes a lot in your life. Yes, but it is true, isn't it? How has that changed you? Because for me, it has had a gigantic impact on my life.
Max: Yes, I already had a stepdaughter, of course. And that was from her first year, so to speak. Yes. So I’ve already experienced a lot, so to speak. And because of that, I think it was, so to speak, less shocking. Because ultimately, in our family, in our daily life, nothing really changed. (...) Of course, the very first for me. But yes, in terms of daily life and how we did things, so to speak, that was already the case now. Yes, you furnished an extra room for her. And of course, that first year of life is perhaps a bit harder to sleep in. And a bit more complicated. But generally speaking, it went pretty smoothly.
Maybe it isn't incredibly hard on a weekend like that? You were away for eight days last month, and that gets worse and worse, doesn't it?
Max: Yes, fortunately, you can FaceTime, of course. But for example, you sometimes get videos. And I have my own room now where I keep, let's say, my cups and helmets and my simulators. And she already knows that that is my room. So every time she goes there now, because she can walk now and she opens that door. And then it's like, 'Papa, papa.' But yeah, he's not there, of course. And then I get that video forwarded to me. Then you do think…
It breaks your heart a little bit?
Max: Yeah, then you do think, 'Shit. Yeah, do something.' Yeah, that is a bit less nice to see, of course. Then you naturally always try to get back home as quickly as possible.
Do you both have that, by the way? Maybe a question for you both. I want my children to race. You don't have any yet. You (Max) have a daughter now. Would you like that?
Max: I always say no. I hope they don't do it. But on the other hand, you know, if you then.. well, boy or girl, it doesn't matter. But when you see that they are doing everything they can. To make it a success. You see, of course… First of all, they need to have talent. If they don't have talent, (...) Then you might as well stop immediately. And I think I would always be reasonably clear about that. You do have to be honest… I think that is, of course, quite difficult as parents. To be honest with your own child. But you just have to assess it clearly. But if she were to have talent, and she works hard enough for it, for example. Then… Yes, why not? Then you’re not going to hold her back either. And on the other hand, I just hope she chooses something she naturally enjoys. Naturally, you support her fully in that.
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