Red Bull sees Miami GP as 'season reboot' but keeps expectations in check

Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies has labeled the upcoming Miami Grand Prix a "reboot for the season" after a dismal start to the 2026 campaign, but he has tempered expectations of an immediate fix for the team's significant car problems. The team sits a lowly sixth in the constructors' standings after three races, with Max Verstappen describing the RB22 as "completely undriveable" in China. Mekies says the five-week break has been used to work "flat out" on both chassis and power unit, aiming to give its drivers a more competitive car.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's early-season struggles represent a dramatic fall from grace for the former championship juggernaut, now grappling with a new Ford-backed power unit and a fundamentally unbalanced car. The Miami race, following an extended break due to global events and featuring tweaks to the 2026 regulations, serves as a critical reset point. How the team performs will set the tone for whether this is a temporary blip or a sign of a prolonged competitive crisis.

The Details:

• A Rocky Start: The 2026 season has been a disaster for Red Bull so far. The team is P6 in the constructors' championship, behind Haas and Alpine, with drivers Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar in P9 and P12 respectively.
• Car Issues: The core problem appears to be the chassis, not the new Ford powertrain. Verstappen's stark assessment of the car as "completely undriveable" during a pointless Chinese GP weekend underscores the severity of the balance issues.
• The Break & The Reboot: An enforced five-week hiatus provided all teams, including Red Bull, crucial development time for the complex new cars. Mekies explicitly calls Miami a "reboot" for their season.
• Cautious Optimism: While the team has worked intensively with both drivers involved in the process, Mekies openly states they do "not expect to have solved all our issues in one go." The goal is a "more comfortable" car, with true progress only measurable on track in Miami.
• North American Debut: The Miami GP holds added significance as the first race on American soil for the new Red Bull Ford Powertrains partnership, kicking off a trio of U.S. races this season.

What's next:

All eyes will be on Red Bull's performance in Miami to gauge the effectiveness of their extended development period. Mekies admits the track will reveal "how good a job we have done and how much we still need to find." With rivals also having improved during the break, Red Bull faces a pivotal weekend that could either begin a genuine recovery or confirm they are in for a long, difficult season.