Max Verstappen expressed mixed feelings about his Red Bull car’s performance ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. Despite finishing fifth in Sprint Qualifying, he stated that his vehicle is “still not where I want it to be.”
Miami Grand Prix Sprint Qualifying Overview
Verstappen will begin Saturday’s Sprint from the third row at the Miami International Autodrome. He outperformed notable rivals, including George Russell from Mercedes and Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton. The four-time World Champion finished six-tenths behind polesitter Lando Norris.
Improvements and Challenges
After several upgrades were introduced, including a variant of Ferrari’s ‘flip-flop’ rear wing, Verstappen felt more positive about the improvements. “It feels more together,” he commented on the recent enhancements. However, he acknowledged ongoing challenges, particularly in the first sector, which includes high-speed sections of the track.
“Last few races we were like over a second behind,” Verstappen noted. He added that the team has “almost halved that gap,” emphasizing the incremental improvements. “The rest seemed a bit more together,” he said, highlighting his growing confidence in the car’s handling.
Isack Hadjar’s Performance
Verstappen’s teammate, Isack Hadjar, qualified in ninth position but expressed frustration over his one-second gap behind Verstappen. He stated, “I know how to drive,” adding that he needed to collaborate more closely with the team to close the performance gap.
- Qualifying Position: Verstappen fifth, Hadjar ninth
- Polesitter: Lando Norris
- Track: Miami International Autodrome
- Team Upgrades: New ‘flip-flop’ rear wing
- Gap Reduction: From over a second to around six-tenths
In conclusion, while Verstappen feels some improvements have been made to his Red Bull car, he admits that it still has room for growth. As the Miami Grand Prix approaches, both drivers hope to enhance their performances and compete more effectively against their rivals.
