Thanks to a significant package of upgrades, Max Verstappen is starting to regain positive feelings with his Red Bull, even if everything is not yet sorted out.
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After a difficult start to the season, Red Bull finally seems to be heading in the right direction. At the Miami Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was able to measure the progress made thanks to the many upgrades brought to the RB22.
Fifth in the sprint qualifying, the Dutchman is perhaps not in pole position, but he showed himself much more competitive than in recent races. Above all, he managed to join the fight with McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes.
A resurgence that contrasts with the large gaps observed earlier in the season.
“The car is more consistent”
The main takeaway for Verstappen is not only in the ranking, but in the feeling behind the wheel.
“The car is more consistent. There are still things to improve, but it’s a very positive step for us, he explains. In the last races, we were more than a second behind. I would say we have almost halved that gap.”
Despite these advances, everything is not yet perfect. Verstappen points out a clear deficit in fast corners, a key sector on many circuits.
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“We are still very weak in the first sector, especially in fast curves” he judges.
This weak point still prevents the Austrian team from fully competing with the leaders. While the overall balance has improved, some areas remain problematic.
Confidence regained… but cautious
The major change for Verstappen remains however the confidence regained in his car: “It’s not yet where I want to be, but at least, I can trust it more.”
An essential element for a driver used to playing leading roles and fully exploiting the potential of his car. According to him, Red Bull also seems to have taken a slight advantage over the midfield, a sign that the upgrades are starting to pay off.
Now it remains to confirm this trend in the race… and especially to continue development to definitively close the gap with the top teams.
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