Verstappen: Red Bull upgrades have ‘almost halved’ gap to leaders

Max Verstappen has delivered an encouraging early verdict on Red Bull’s latest upgrades, suggesting the team is finally beginning to claw back ground on Formula 1’s front-runners.

After a challenging start to the season, the Dutchman believes the revised RB22 is showing tangible progress – even if there’s still work ahead.

Red Bull arrived in Miami this week with a bold package of updates, including a striking reinterpretation of the so-called Ferrari “Macarena” rear wing, reworked sidepods, and refinements to the floor, engine cover, and exhaust.

The goal was clear: improve aerodynamic efficiency and stabilize airflow. And Verstappen’s first impressions point to a meaningful gain.

"It feels more together,” the Dutchman said after Friday’s running

“Of course, there are still things that we are working on. But it's been a really positive step for us. Last few races we were over a second behind. I would say we have almost halved that gap now."

That’s a significant claim in a tightly contested field. In Miami sprint qualifying, Verstappen secured fifth on the grid – just under six-tenths off pole – marking a clear improvement compared to earlier struggles, such as missing Q3 in Suzuka.

Still, the four-time world champion is not getting carried away.

"So that's positive. We're still very weak in the first sector, which is mainly high speed. So we know that we need to work on that,” he added.

Despite lingering weaknesses, especially in high-speed sections, Verstappen acknowledges the car is beginning to behave more predictably.

"But, yeah, the rest seemed all a bit more together. So a bit happier with that. At least it seems like we have cleared a little bit the midfield."

Growing confidence behind the wheel

One of the biggest gains appears to be driver confidence – an essential ingredient often overlooked in raw performance metrics.

"It feels a bit more normal. It's still not where I want it to be, obviously. But it's at least allowing me to trust it a bit more. And I can basically take a bit more lap time out of it,” Verstappen explained.

That growing trust could prove crucial as Red Bull looks to bridge the remaining gap to the front. Team principal Laurent Mekies echoed Verstappen’s cautious optimism, describing the upgrades as a move “in the right direction” and highlighting improved consistency.

After an intense development push, the team seems to have addressed several underlying issues, though Mekies admitted not everything has been solved.

Even with progress, the reality of Formula 1’s relentless development race remains unchanged. Rivals continue to advance, and Red Bull’s improvements, while notable, haven’t yet vaulted them back to the very front.

• Miami Grand Prix - Sprint qualifying results

The Miami upgrades have, however, brought a sense of momentum – and perhaps more importantly, direction.

For Verstappen and Red Bull, the message is clear: they’re no longer searching in the dark. The path forward is emerging, and while the destination is still some distance away, they’re finally heading the right way.

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