Max Verstappen hails Red Bull upgrades following Miami Grand Prix revival
Max Verstappen has praised significant Red Bull upgrades after returning to form at the Miami Grand Prix, while team-mate Isack Hadjar struggled to match his pace.
The Milton Keynes-based team endured a difficult start to the 2026 season, failing to match the speed of Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren.
However, developmental changes introduced during a five-week break allowed the Dutchman to deliver a highly competitive showing in Florida.
The four-time world champion qualified second for Sunday’s race, although a spin at the start relegated him to an eventual fifth-place finish.
Light at the end of the tunnel
The improved performance comes after a frustrating opening three rounds in Australia, China and Japan, where he failed to qualify higher than eighth.
These early struggles, combined with his distaste for the sport’s new regulations, had previously prompted him to consider his future in Formula 1.
Following a breakthrough in Saturday’s qualifying session, a noticeably happier driver expressed optimism about the updated RB22 challenger.
“I’m already very happy with where we are,” Verstappen said.
“From here there’s light at the end of the tunnel, that we can just push on and try to close the gap further.”
Regaining control of the car
Prior to the Miami weekend, the series leader admitted he felt like a passenger in a thoroughly unpredictable machine.
The extensive upgrades have seemingly cured those drivability issues, giving him the confidence to push the car to its limits once again.
“I never felt comfortable with the layout of the car,” Verstappen explained.
“I feel more in control of the car again and then I can push a bit more, then the upgrades are working.”
In stark contrast, his team-mate Isack Hadjar endured a torrid weekend, losing significant ground to the revitalised team leader.
The French driver will now face mounting pressure to extract similar performance from the upgraded package at the next round of the championship.