Red Bull's Miami Upgrades Deliver Step Forward as Verstappen Sees 'Light at the End of the Tunnel'

After a difficult start to the 2026 season, Red Bull has made a significant step forward in Miami. Max Verstappen described the progress as “light at the end of the tunnel” – his fifth-place finish did not reflect the team's improved pace, but the RB22 was considerably more competitive than in the first three rounds. Technical director Pierre Wache confirmed the upgrade package delivered as expected, while a fix to the steering system also unlocked extra performance.

Why it matters:

Red Bull entered 2026 as defending champions but found itself in a deep performance hole, with the car overweight and lacking pace. The Miami upgrades – heavily revised sidepods and a new floor – have brought them back into the mix alongside McLaren and Ferrari, who also brought major packages. Combined with the steering fix, this gives the team a clear development path to challenge for wins again.

The details:

• Upgrade effectiveness: Unlike the minor updates in Japan that made little difference, the Miami package delivered precisely what the team expected, according to Wache.
• Steering changes: Modifications to the steering system have allowed Verstappen to push harder, unlocking extra performance that the team hadn't anticipated.
• Weight reduction: Red Bull has reduced the RB22's excess weight from 12kg to 6kg above the FIA minimum of 768kg. Plans are in place to hit the limit within two months, with another weight-saving step expected for the Austrian Grand Prix.
• Development roadmap: Red Bull will bring a small upgrade to Montreal, but its major development push is reserved for the European season.

What's next:

Wache expressed relief that the difficult opening phase is now behind the team. “The result in Miami doesn't show our pace… it's good for the team to show that the car has some pace and that we are in the mix again,” he said. Red Bull will focus on further weight reduction and performance gains, with a major upgrade expected in Europe. With McLaren and Ferrari also pushing hard, the battle for top honours is set to be a tight one – but Red Bull now has a platform to build on.