From Rocky Start to Race Ready: Red Bull's Early Season Woes
Max Verstappen described Red Bull’s rapid recovery at the Miami Grand Prix as “incredible”, after major upgrades transformed his RB22 from an unpredictable machine into a car he could actually attack with. The four-time world champion said the changes meant he was no longer “being a passenger”, but finally able to push properly.
Key Takeaways from Red Bull's Miami Turnaround:
- Red Bull introduced upgrades in Miami that significantly improved the RB22’s balance and drivability
- Max Verstappen secured a front-row start, his strongest qualifying result of the 2026 season so far
- The Dutch driver said he no longer feels like “a passenger” and has regained confidence in the car
- Verstappen praised Red Bull’s Milton Keynes factory for a “massive team effort” in solving early-season issues
Red Bull’s 2026 campaign had begun on the wrong foot, with the RB22 proving difficult to balance and leaving both Verstappen and teammate Isack Hadjar off the pace. At one point, the team even found itself behind midfield rivals like Haas in the constructors’ standings.
Upgrade Breakthrough Brings Much-Needed Stability
A first major upgrade package introduced in Miami appears to have addressed some of the car’s fundamental issues, giving the RB22 a far more stable and predictable feel. That progress translated directly into performance, with Verstappen securing a front-row start.
Before Miami, Verstappen’s best qualifying result of the season was only P8 in Japan, though Hadjar had briefly impressed with P3 in Australia amid chaotic conditions. In Miami, Verstappen went from fifth in the sprint to outqualifying Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, finishing just behind Mercedes’ pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli by two tenths.
“I Don’t Feel Like a Passenger Anymore”
Explaining the turnaround, Verstappen said the improvements had completely changed his confidence in the car. “So many things were not working up until this weekend,” he said. “A few things have changed, and it made it a lot more comfortable to drive. I feel a lot more confidence and I don't feel like I'm a passenger anymore in the car.”
He added that the sprint already showed progress, allowing him to stay closer to rivals instead of dropping back. Small refinements ahead of qualifying, he said, helped further close the gap, with the front-row result marking a huge leap from earlier races where he trailed by over a second.
Team Effort Behind the Turnaround in Milton Keynes
Verstappen was quick to credit the factory work at Milton Keynes, praising the engineers for solving the RB22’s balance issues after a difficult start to the year. He highlighted how the car had gone from unpredictable handling to something far more consistent and controllable.
“We were really not happy, of course, with what we were doing the previous races, but you can see everyone was pushing flat out to try and understand the problems and they have come with solutions,” he said. “And that's just amazing to see. Amazing team effort.”
He added that earlier in the season the car felt inconsistent and difficult to read, but recent changes have made it far more aligned with his driving style. While he admitted Red Bull is still refining its understanding of the package, he said the latest version finally allows him to “drive how I want to drive.”
