Verstappen reveals big factor behind Red Bull resurgence in Miami

After a rocky start to his 2026 season with Red Bull, Max Verstappen has pulled off a stunning resurgence at the Miami International Autodrome.

Securing a front-row start for Sunday’s race, the four-time world champion left everyone wondering how the RB22 had found its mojo so suddenly.

When it was suggested that fans who gambled on his front-row return were likely celebrating a massive payday, Verstappen was in high spirits, joking: “Yes, and I bet on that myself as well!”

Beyond the upgrades

While the RB22 arrived in Miami sporting a new "Macarena" wing, à la Ferrari, revised sidepods, and a fresh floor, the hardware wasn’t the only star of the show. Verstappen revealed that a long-standing mechanical ghost has finally been exorcised.

“Of course I didn’t expect this either,” he admitted regarding his P2 start. “The goal for this weekend was to get a bit closer to the top three teams, but normally that would still mean P7 on the grid. So, it went a lot better than expected in this qualifying session.”

The secret sauce? A total overhaul of the steering assembly. Verstappen traced the issue back to the very start of the year.

“Well, I already said from the very first lap in the Barcelona test that something was wrong with the steering, but apparently it was very difficult to find. Now it’s finally been fixed,” he explained.

“But it was not as simple as it seems. You think about the steering wheel, but a lot of things come together, also in terms of aerodynamics. In the end, the whole suspension is designed to be aerodynamically optimal as well, so there are always a lot of complicating factors involved.”

A mental reset

By replacing the entire steering rack and its supporting components, Red Bull has given their star driver his "feel" back.

“Most of it is in the steering system, where something was clearly wrong before. They have finally been able to fix that, so now I can at least steer normally again,” he noted.

While Verstappen doesn't claim the fix is more powerful than the aerodynamic upgrades, he acknowledged: “No, but this does make it more comfortable for me and therefore I have a bit more feeling in the steering.”

This breakthrough comes at a pivotal time for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, especially following news that long-time race engineer GianPiero Lambiase will depart in 2028. For Max, the technical leap is a vital psychological win.

“Sometimes you need that. After the first three races, this is obviously really good for us,” he said.

Drawing a parallel to the world of sports, he compared the feeling to a striker finding the net.

• Read also: Hadjar disqualified from Miami qualifying after Red Bull breach

“Yes, but that’s normal. If you don’t get it right in the first few races, then have a month’s break and come back with a big upgrade package, you obviously hope it works,” he added.

“When it works well, it always gives confidence. It’s the same as when you’re playing football and suddenly start scoring goals in the games. That also gives a confidence boost. You can show things in training, but it also has to be confirmed in matches.”

With the steering "normal" again and the RB22 finally singing, the rest of the grid might want to start looking in their mirrors. Max is back, and he’s feeling every bit of the grip.

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