Red Bull’s resurgence in performance at the Miami Grand Prix may have appeared sudden from the outside – but behind the scenes, it was the result of a painstaking and complex engineering effort triggered by concerns raised by Max Verstappen months earlier.
Despite the four-time world champion finishing only fifth on race day – his result compromised by an early spin – the RB22 showed a marked improvement in pace compared to previous outings.
The step forward came after the team finally resolved a persistent steering issue that had troubled the Dutchman since pre-season running.
According to technical director Pierre Wache, identifying and correcting the fault was anything but straightforward.
A hidden problem with complex roots
Verstappen had sensed something was off from the very first shakedown in Barcelona, yet pinpointing the source of the issue proved far more challenging than expected.
“First, we had to make sure that he had an issue. Then it was about identifying where it was coming from, and that takes a long time. And after that, it was about fixing the problem,” Wache said after the Miami race, quoted by Motorsport.com.
That process involved not only diagnosing the fault but also reworking key components of the steering system. Red Bull ultimately replaced the entire steering rack along with several supporting parts—an overhaul that only began to show clear improvements during a filming day at Silverstone.
©Red Bull
The delay in implementing a solution raised questions, particularly given how early Verstappen flagged the problem. Wache acknowledged the frustration within the team.
“I'm sorry that we didn't fix it before,” Wache said. “We tried multiple stuff and it didn't work. Some parts also took a long time to arrive, but I think the engineering team did a very good job to achieve it.”
He also clarified that the team had identified the root cause shortly before the April break, which proved crucial in enabling production and installation of the necessary components.
“A little bit before that,” he said. “But the break gave us time to produce the parts, I would say. Otherwise, in Bahrain and Jeddah we would not have had the parts.”
Development gains beyond the steering fix
While the steering correction played a key role in unlocking performance, it was not the only factor behind Red Bull’s improved competitiveness in Miami.
The team also introduced a series of upgrades, including revised sidepods and a new floor, helping to significantly reduce the gap to frontrunners like McLaren and Ferrari.
Another notable addition was Red Bull’s interpretation of a rotating rear wing concept – visually reminiscent of Ferrari’s innovative ‘Macarena’ design but engineered differently.
“I think we started in November. We tried to introduce it in Bahrain, and then in Melbourne. But we had some issues to make it work,” Wache explained.
“We tried again in Suzuka, but we were struggling a lot. And now it works. It's a long process to make this type of device happen.”
Perfecting the system required not just functional performance, but also strict compliance with FIA regulations – an area that added further complexity and delays.
“Because the time that you have to open and close it is limited. And it's a longer distance that is not exactly what we are used to,” the Frenchman added.
“We also didn't anticipate some issues because it's a new system. Maybe it was our fault, [so there were] things that we had to fix. And after fixing, it takes time on top of the normal development of the car.”
The progress made in Miami suggests Red Bull is beginning to regain its footing after a difficult start to the season.
However, the journey to this point underscores just how intricate modern Formula 1 development has become, where even a seemingly isolated issue like steering feel can take months to fully resolve.
For Verstappen and Red Bull, the fixes have brought renewed optimism – but as the team continues refining its package, the focus now shifts to building on this momentum and translating it into consistent results on track.
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