Max Verstappen regains hope in Miami: "We can see the light at the end of the tunnel"

Starting second on the grid in Miami, Max Verstappen is back on track after a difficult start to the season. Boosted by upgrades that are finally paying off, the Red Bull driver sees a more positive momentum… and no longer hesitates to speak of “light at the end of the tunnel” ahead of the race.

Max Verstappen emerged from qualifying for the Miami Grand Prix with a much more positive outlook than he had at the start. Finishing second in qualifying, just 0.166 seconds behind Kimi Antonelli's pole position, the Red Bull driver confirmed that his team is on the right track after a difficult start to the season.

The Austrian team, which struggled in the early races, seems to have regained consistency thanks to the upgrades introduced this weekend. And for Verstappen, the turning point is as much technical as it is personal.

“For me, there are two things. The car clearly wasn't good in the first few races, but on my end, I didn't feel comfortable with how it handled either.”

Extensive work was carried out behind the scenes to address these weaknesses, with a clear goal: to restore the driver's confidence. “The team has worked incredibly hard to make upgrades and to help me feel more comfortable with the car.”

And the results were immediate. Verstappen now feels capable of fully realizing his potential. “It's paying off. I feel in control again, I can push harder, and the updates are working.”

A front-row start that exceeds his expectations from the start of the weekend: “Being on the front row is much better than I imagined when I arrived this weekend.”

A Sunday to build on

Now it's time to deliver in the race, an area where the Dutchman admits he still has room for improvement, particularly at the start.
“Let's start by getting a good start… I haven't managed many this season!”

With weather potentially playing a significant role (remember that the Miami Grand Prix was moved up to 7 p.m. French time due to thunderstorms), Verstappen preferred to remain cautious, while displaying renewed confidence. “I'm already very happy with where we are. We're starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and we can keep pushing to close the gap.”

The pace seen in the Sprint also offers some encouraging signs: “The pace seemed decent during the Sprint, once we were in clean air. But tomorrow will be a whole different story.”

Red Bull may not yet be back at its best, but the trend is clearly reversing. Every little bit helps in this comeback.