Red Bull reveals how Miami breakthrough came from more than just upgrades

Red Bull's impressive step forward in Miami was driven by more than just a raft of upgrades — the team also unlocked performance by addressing a fundamental lack of driver confidence. Team principal Laurent Mekies admitted that giving Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar a "consistent car" was a major focus during the five-week break, and that alone yielded tangible lap time.

Why it matters:

After a sluggish start to 2026, Red Bull slashed its deficit to the front from over a second to around six tenths in Miami. If the team can sustain this trajectory, it could rejoin the lead pack — but Mekies and Verstappen caution that the fight is not yet equal.

The details:

• Upgrades included Red Bull's version of the 'Macarena' rear wing, revised front wing, floor, engine cover, and a new steering system that Verstappen said gave him the feel he'd been lacking.
• However, Mekies emphasized that a significant part of the gain came from operational refinement: "We knew we were losing a serious amount of lap time with that lack of confidence."
• The team still faces correlation issues between its aged wind tunnel and the real world, which won't be fully resolved until the new tunnel is operational.
• Circuit characteristics in Miami (few high-speed corners) also flattered the car's weaknesses.

What's next:

Red Bull hopes to carry this momentum into upcoming races, but Verstappen is realistic: "We're getting there. We're not the same yet." With McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes all bringing updates, the midfield battle is tightening.