Does Max Verstappen win because he has a fast car or because he's a better driver?

Last week, my 6-year-old asked me, "Who is Max Verstappen?"

"He's a Formula One driver," I said.

"He always wins?"

"Yes," I replied. "But can you guess why he wins?"

"Because his car is very fast."

"Yes," I said. "But other drivers also have fast cars."

"Maybe his car is the fastest."

"Or maybe," I said, "he's a better driver."

Silence….

"So… does he win because he has a fast car or because he's a better driver?"

Voila! The lens had changed. The conversation was no longer about Max or F1, it was about thinking.

When he's asking why Max wins, it's not just about racing. He's asking about cause and effect and my job as a parent isn't just to give answers, but to show him how to peel the layers and dig deeper.

Answers will come but the framework is critical.

"The more you ask, the more you understand"

We All Grow Up

As kids, we are all curious and ask thousands of questions (sometimes endlessly!). But as we grow up structure replaces curiosity.

We focus more on producing the "right answer" instead of asking "better questions" and by the time we're adults, most of us stop asking why. Those who still ask are often labelled as difficult, overthinkers or someone who slows things down.

I'm sure you've witnessed a colleague, your kids or even yourself holding back a question in a meeting, even when you needed more clarity?

Sounds familiar?

That's the curious kid who learnt to stay silent.

No More Why's

When I think about the future, I don't worry about my kids falling behind in coding or math. I worry about whether they'll still have the instinct to ask "Why".

They're growing up in an age of instant answers and easily infinite information. Ask ChatGPT or Gemini something. You'll get the answers, even options but, never a why?

Most AI models don't ask "why" because they're built to answer, not question. They're optimized to give the most likely response, not to challenge assumptions. Training and user feedback reward compliance, not curiosity and asking "why" risks sounding confrontational or uncertain. True curiosity would require redesigning AI to seek understanding, not just simulate it, by rewarding doubt and exploration instead of correctness. (BTW this is an actual response by ChatGPT to the question "Why don't any AI models ask why?)

AI can give us cool responses, but it dulls our ability to question.

When every answer is a click away, thinking begins to fade.

Please ask Why

My goal isn't to raise kids who can find the right answers faster, it's to help them think at their own pace, reflect, dig deeper and ask questions (as many as they want).

So, when my son asks, "Does Max win because his car is fast or because he's a better driver?" I remind myself, it's not just a cute question, its a doorway to shaping his mindset.

AI will keep on getting faster, information will keep on getting cheaper. Encouraging curiosity is the only edge we will have.

"The mind is not a vessel to be filled, but a fire to be kindled." — Plutarch