Max Verstappen’s Turnaround in Miami
Max Verstappen’s early-season frustrations have taken a positive turn, and Red Bull is pleased with the upgraded car that has been delivered to its four-time world champion for the Miami Grand Prix. The Dutch driver will start the race in second place, marking his best starting position of the season so far.
The upgrade package introduced by Red Bull for the RB22 included seven new or modified components, which proved to be well-suited for the Miami street circuit. Verstappen began to feel the benefits of the improvements during Sprint Qualifying, where he secured fifth place. This was a significant improvement from previous races, where he struggled to make it into Q3.
During the main Qualifying on Saturday, Verstappen demonstrated even greater pace. He managed to secure a surprising front-row position alongside pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli. Reflecting on the change, Verstappen said:
“Last qualifying (Japan), I wasn’t even in Q3. So for us, this is an unbelievable turnaround. The car is finally more together, it has better performance, and also, I feel more in control of the car, where before I felt like a passenger.”
Verstappen welcomed the recent regulatory changes ahead of the Miami GP, which he believes have allowed Red Bull to deliver a more competitive car. He added, “That, of course, allows you to push more. I think that has been shown. The whole weekend we’ve been much more on it, even though I think second is still a bit of a surprise.”
After the Sprint Race, Verstappen provided a positive assessment of the RB22’s performance in clean air. He stated, “I think once I was in clean air, the pace was actually quite okay. A lot of things that I think we have to work on, because in the low speed, the car is jumping a lot, which is costing me quite a lot of grip.”
Weather Challenges in Miami
Despite the progress, Verstappen acknowledges that the upcoming Miami GP presents additional challenges. Rain is predicted for the event, and no drivers have had the opportunity to test the 2026 F1 cars in wet conditions yet. However, Verstappen and the Ferrari drivers have some experience, having tested in the wet during preseason testing in Barcelona.
While Verstappen has had several impressive performances in the rain, including his iconic 2024 Brazilian GP comeback, he believes the conditions in Miami will be more challenging this time around. When asked about how the car would perform on a wet track, he said:
“It’s quite a handful, it’s not gonna be easy. But let’s first also wait and see how much water is gonna come down because that also makes a big difference.”
To mitigate the risk of heavy rain, the Miami GP has been rescheduled to start at 1 p.m. local time. This adjustment aims to avoid the worst of the storm systems expected in the area.
Looking Ahead
With the upgrades showing promise and Verstappen finding a better rhythm with the RB22, Red Bull is optimistic about the rest of the season. However, the unpredictable weather in Miami adds an extra layer of complexity to the race. As the teams prepare for the challenge ahead, all eyes will be on how the drivers adapt to the conditions and whether the improvements made to the cars can translate into strong performances on the track.
