By Violet Carter
I know babies.
I have a psychology degree, years of research, and a plan to earn my Master’s in child development. I can talk for hours about secure attachment, cognitive growth, and early childhood needs.
What I didn’t plan for? A Formula 1 playboy with a surprise daughter and zero parenting instincts.
My father — who also happens to be his boss — decided Griffin Michaels wasn’t allowed to screw this up. So he handed the problem to me. Because apparently, that’s how we solve things in F1.
So now, I’m stuck managing a newborn and her reckless, unprepared father. If you ever find yourself in a similar situation (God help you), here’s what you need to know.
Step One: Accept That You Are Now the Adult in the Room
Technically, Griffin is the father. Legally, he’s responsible. But practically? If left alone for too long, he will put the baby’s onesie on inside out and call it a win.
You are now the decision-maker. The one who reads the formula instructions. The one who makes sure the baby’s needs come first.
Griffin will ask if babies really need that many bottles.
Yes, Griffin. They do.
He will try to improvise a swaddle.
No, Griffin. That’s not how physics works.
He will stare at the baby like she’s a foreign object he’s supposed to decode.
Do not wait for him to figure it out. He won’t. Just take charge and move on.
Step Two: Give Him Small, Safe Responsibilities
Drivers need structure. If you don’t give Griffin something to do, he will get distracted and cause problems.
The trick is low-risk tasks. Nothing involving diaper cream, temperature checks, or fine motor skills.
- Can he hold the baby? Yes. Will he also comment on her "good grip strength" like she’s a future racer? Absolutely.
- Can he burp her? Yes. Will he narrate it like a post-race debrief? Without a doubt.
- Can he feed her? Technically, but he will try to turn it into a competition.
Left unsupervised for too long, he will start experimenting. The last thing this baby needs is her first words being "Box, box."
Step Three: Control the Public Narrative
F1 is all about PR. And Griffin Michaels is a media disaster waiting to happen.
The moment the world finds out he has a baby, the headlines will write themselves. Every choice we make is strategy.
- No unapproved photos.
- No spontaneous interviews.
- No more shirtless selfies captioned “Dad life.” (Yes, that happened. No, I did not approve it.)
If Griffin wants to stay on this team and keep his career intact, he needs to follow the script. Which means — for once — he actually has to listen to you.
Step Four: Do Not Fall for the Sleep-Deprived Vulnerability Trap
At some point, probably around hour 48 without sleep, Griffin will break. He will look at you, exhausted, baby asleep on his chest, and say something dangerous like:
"I don’t know how I’d do this without you."
This is not a moment of emotional growth. It is pure sleep deprivation.
Because in three hours, he will be back to:
- Smirking at cameras.
- Dodging PR emails.
- Asking you if a baby really needs to be strapped into a car seat for "just a quick drive."
Do not engage. Do not soften. Do not let your brain entertain thoughts. This man is a problem. Stick to the mission.
Step Five: Accept That This Is Your Life Now
You had a plan. You were going to finish your Master’s, build a career, and live a structured, responsible life.
Now, you're spending the rest of the F1 season raising a newborn alongside a man who thrives on recklessness.
You don’t have time to wonder how you got here. You don’t have time to consider what happens next.
The only thing that matters is this baby.
And if Griffin Michaels wants to be a real father then he better start acting like one.
The Perfect Formula, a steamy nanny romance featuring a reckless F1 driver, an exasperated team principal’s daughter, and the baby that changes everything, releases April 3rd. Buckle up. It’s going to be a wild ride. Preorder now.
