Red Bull 'clearly made a step' with Miami upgrades, says Hadjar

Red Bull Racing's upgrade package in Miami appears to have delivered a genuine step forward, according to driver Isack Hadjar, even as he endured a difficult weekend of his own. Max Verstappen showcased the improved pace by qualifying on the front row and recovering to fifth after a first-lap spin, providing the team with encouraging data.

Why it matters:

After a sluggish start to the 2026 season relative to rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes, Red Bull needed a clear performance injection. The Miami upgrades suggest they have found a direction that works, potentially keeping them in contention as the development race intensifies.

The details:

• Hadjar's verdict: "I still felt faster than the last two weekends. You look at Max, what he's done — clearly the car made a step. I'm happy they found something."
• Verstappen's recovery: Despite a rare start spin that dropped him down the order, Verstappen fought back to fifth, demonstrating stronger race pace compared to recent events.
• Top speed weakness: Hadjar highlighted that Red Bull still struggles with drag, hurting straight-line speed. "It's very complicated. They've done a very good job fixing the issues. We were not stuck with the same problem."
• Montreal outlook: The Frenchman expects the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve to suit the RB22 better, but cautioned against expecting a massive leap: "It should be suiting us a bit better, but I expect something similar to this weekend."

What's next:

Red Bull now heads to Canada with cautious optimism. The team will work to fine-tune the setup and further reduce drag before qualifying and the race. Hadjar stressed the need to "make sure next weekend we get on with it and there's no margin for fine-tuning." If the progress in Miami proves repeatable, Red Bull could close the gap to the frontrunners — but reliability and top speed remain key areas to monitor.