The upgrades are starting to deliver results, and Max Verstappen is regaining confidence. The power unit base remains solid, and now the chassis and aerodynamics must complete the overall picture.
Miami presents a clearer Red Bull, less confused compared to the opening rounds of the season. It is not yet a benchmark car, but for the first time a clear technical direction is emerging. After three underwhelming races, the work carried out during the break has produced a first tangible response: the RB22 appeared more balanced, more predictable and, above all, more usable.
The underlying data remains consistent with the initial expectations of the project. The Red Bull Ford power unit already delivers competitive raw performance, to the point that — at least for now — no intervention linked to Aduo benefits is required. The issues were elsewhere: in the car platform, in the ability to generate downforce consistently, and in providing the drivers with a wider operating window. The updates introduced in Miami should be interpreted precisely in this direction.
Red Bull, Lambiase: focused work on the car’s structural limits
Gianpiero Lambiase outlined the situation, highlighting the quality of the work carried out during the break:
“It has been a very positive day for us as a team,” said the engineer, who is expected to join McLaren in the future. “The break between races gave all teams the opportunity to reflect in depth on the early tests and the first two races. We managed to understand the limitations of the car and identify issues that affected its balance, and I think as a team we did that very well.”
“We resolved not only general performance-related issues but also some more fundamental problems with the car, and Max feels extremely comfortable, which is reflected in his performance.”
“Isack had some issues with torque delivery during the day. We are trying to understand how that affected his power output and the torque delivered by the car, so this will be something we focus on to avoid a similar situation in qualifying and in the race this weekend. Overall, it has been a very positive day and an encouraging start, but we will not stop here, we will try to improve further overnight.”
These statements clarify a crucial point: Red Bull was not simply looking for more downforce, but rather a deeper correction of the car’s overall behaviour. The reference to “more fundamental problems” suggests interventions on aerodynamic stability and balance consistency throughout the lap — aspects that made the Austrian car difficult to interpret in the early races.
The fact that Verstappen now feels “extremely comfortable” is a significant technical indicator. It means the car has regained a predictable baseline, a fundamental condition for building consistent performance.
Verstappen: gap halved, but high-speed weakness remains
Max Verstappen also confirmed the progress, while maintaining a clear view of the remaining weaknesses:
“We have taken a step forward,” he told the official F1 channel. “Of course, we are still working on many things, but it has been a really positive step for us.”
“In the last races we were more than a second behind, whereas now we have halved the gap and that is positive. We are still very weak in the first sector, which is mostly high-speed, so we know we need to work on that. For the rest, everything felt a bit more connected, including the car, and we are very happy with that.”
The halving of the gap represents the clearest sign of progress. It is not a marginal improvement, but the result of a package that is finally starting to work in a coherent way. However, one clear limitation remains: the first sector in Miami, dominated by high-speed corners, continues to expose the RB22’s weaknesses.
This element brings the analysis back to a precise technical level. The power unit allows the car to perform well on the straights and during acceleration phases, but it is in managing downforce at high speed where something is still missing in terms of stability and efficiency. This aspect directly involves the floor, airflow structures and diffuser behaviour — the core of aerodynamic balance.
Overall, the picture is starting to change perspective. Verstappen’s season can regain momentum, but on one condition: what was seen in Miami must not remain an isolated case. Friday’s performance is only a first step, one that must be confirmed in the remaining sessions of the weekend and, above all, in the upcoming races. Only then will it be clear whether Red Bull has truly found the right path forward.
Leave a Reply