Verstappen Hails 'Incredible' Red Bull Turnaround After Miami Upgrades

Max Verstappen has declared Red Bull's rapid performance recovery at the Miami Grand Prix "incredible," crediting new upgrades for transforming the RB22 from an unpredictable car into one he can finally push. After a dismal start to the 2026 season, the four-time champion qualified on the front row, just two-tenths off pole, marking a dramatic shift from being over a second adrift in previous races.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's ability to diagnose and fix its flawed 2026 car so quickly demonstrates the team's formidable engineering depth and resilience. For a champion driver like Verstappen, regaining a competitive car is crucial not just for results, but for morale and confidence in the team's development direction after a shocking drop down the order.

The details:

• A Rocky Start: The RB22 proved nearly undriveable in the opening rounds, described by Verstappen as impossible to balance, leaving both him and new teammate Isack Hadjar trailing rivals like Haas.
• Miami Breakthrough: A package of upgrades and a deeper understanding of the car's weaknesses led to a much more poised machine. Verstappen noted the car was finally comfortable and predictable.
• Driver's Relief: Verstappen's feedback highlighted the stark contrast. He went from feeling like "a total passenger" with a car that could randomly understeer or snap, to finally being able to "drive how I want to drive" and follow other cars competitively.
• Qualifying Leap: The result was a jump to second on the grid behind Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, a massive improvement from a previous season-best qualifying of eighth in Japan.

What's next:

While the Miami upgrade is a massive step, the true test will be consistency. Verstappen admitted the team still doesn't fully understand everything about the RB22. The focus now shifts to building on this momentum, validating the car's new-found performance at different circuits, and closing the gap to the established frontrunners to salvage Red Bull's 2026 campaign.