Max Verstappen secures P2 at Miami GP as Red Bull upgrades stabilize RB22

The Miami International Autodrome provided the first clear evidence that Red Bull Racing has found a way to stabilize the RB22. After an opening stretch of the 2026 campaign that left the Milton Keynes-based squad struggling for balance, Max Verstappen returned to the front row of the grid, missing out on pole position by just 0.166s to Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli.

This performance represents a significant change compared to the results seen earlier in the season, where the team struggled to find a consistent setup. Before this weekend, Verstappen’s best qualifying effort of the year was eighth place in Japan. While teammate Isack Hadjar managed a third-place start in Australia during a weekend where several rivals struggled with new power units, the overall trajectory for the four-time world champion had been one of frustration and instability.

From a Bucking Bronco to a Connected Machine

For the first three rounds of 2026, Verstappen described a relationship with the RB22 that was fundamentally disconnected. The driver’s experience was characterized by a lack of predictability, where the car’s behavior could shift between sessions even when no parts were changed.

“Before, nothing really worked. I felt like a total passenger in the car. It could understeer. It could snap on me. It could feel different from one session to the other one without even touching parts. We’re still not where we want to be in terms of understanding everything, but most of it. I can finally drive how I want to drive.” Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

This instability forced Verstappen into a reactive driving style. According to Motorsport.com, the car had become a bucking bronco that could oversteer in one corner and understeer in the next. This lack of balance made it impossible to push the vehicle to its limits, as the driver could not trust the car’s response. The result was a struggle to keep pace with the frontrunners, leaving Red Bull adrift in the constructors’ standings and trailing behind teams such as Haas.

The change in the car’s behavior in Miami is evident. Verstappen noted that the current state of the car allows him to feel more in control, which in turn allows him to push harder. The improvement in performance seen on Saturday aligns with Verstappen’s reported feeling of being more in control of the vehicle’s movements and its overall stability through the corners.

The Two Things Driving the RB22’s Recovery

When questioned about the sudden surge in pace, Verstappen pointed to two things that facilitated the improvement: a series of technical upgrades and a shift in the layout of the car. While the team has not detailed every mechanical change, the updates have contributed to a notable increase in driver confidence during high-speed sections.

One of the most visible changes is a new rear wing design. As reported by The Race, Red Bull has introduced its own version of an upside-down rear wing, a concept first seen during Bahrain testing with Ferrari. Red Bull’s interpretation appears more extreme than the Ferrari version; when the rotation is complete, the top flap ends up higher than the rear wing endplates, creating a larger gap and presumably reducing drag.

Implementing this design required specific engineering adjustments. Red Bull stated that the rear wing mechanism and its attachments were revised, necessitating a subtle altering of the third profile near centreline. This hardware change, combined with the broader upgrade package, contributed to Verstappen’s P2 finish in qualifying and a strong showing in FP1, where he was only three tenths slower than Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen praised the effort from the team in Milton Keynes, noting that the squad had been pushing flat-out to understand the inherent weaknesses of the RB22. The result is a car that feels connected, allowing Verstappen to follow other cars closely during the Sprint race rather than watching them pull away.

Chasing Antonelli and the Mercedes Edge

Despite the recovery, the gap to the top remains. Kimi Antonelli, the Italian championship leader for Mercedes, continues to set the benchmark, securing his third pole position of the season. The 0.166s margin between Antonelli and Verstappen is narrow, but it represents a significant hurdle for Red Bull as they attempt to reclaim their dominance.

The current competitive landscape shows that while Red Bull has found the light at the end of the tunnel, Mercedes still holds a slight edge in raw qualifying speed. Verstappen acknowledged that while the progress is massive—especially coming from a deficit of over a second in the previous race—the team is still working toward a full understanding of the car’s potential.

Securing a front-row start serves as a technical validation of the upgrades and a sign of progress for the team. For a driver who felt he was fighting the machine for the first month of the season, the P2 start confirms that the evolution of the RB22 is moving in a positive direction.

Rain and Start-Line Anxiety for Sunday

The focus now shifts to the Grand Prix, where several variables could disrupt Red Bull’s momentum. Weather is a key factor for the team to monitor, with forecasts suggesting that rain may be on the way for Sunday’s race.

Changing track conditions often place a premium on a car’s stability and the driver’s ability to adapt to shifting grip levels. While Verstappen feels more in control now, the unpredictability of a wet track will test whether the RB22’s new stability holds up under extreme conditions. Verstappen noted that while the race pace looked alright in the Sprint once he had clean air, Sunday will be a completely different day.

Beyond the weather, Verstappen faces a personal challenge with the race start. He admitted that his starts have been a weak point this year, stating, Let’s start with a good start. I’ve not had a lot of them this year!

If Verstappen can execute a clean launch from the front row, he will be in a position to challenge Antonelli for the win. The objective for Red Bull is now to capitalize on this momentum and close the remaining gap to the Mercedes. With the light at the end of the tunnel now visible, the team will be looking to convert this qualifying resurgence into a Sunday trophy.