The 2026 F1 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying session brought positive and frustrating results for Red Bull, as Max Verstappen claimed P5 and Isack Hadjar P9.
Red Bull introduced several significant upgrades heading into the weekend, including a version of Ferrari’s ‘Macarena’ rear wing. Following a difficult start to the season, the changes appear promising, with Verstappen finishing P2 in Free Practice.
Verstappen: “It’s been a really positive step for us”
After making his way up to SQ3, Verstappen claimed the fastest time in the final sector, placing him P3 before dropping to P5 as others improved late on. The result marks his best starting position of the 2026 season so far, though he acknowledged after the session that there is still room for improvement in the RB22.
“It feels more together,” he shared. “Of course, there are still things that we are working on. But it’s been a really positive step for us. Last few races were over a second behind. I would say we have almost halved that gap now. So that’s a positive.”
“We’re still very weak in the first sector, which is mainly high speed. So we know that we need to work on that. But, yeah, the rest seemed all a bit more together. So a bit happier with that. At least it seems like we have cleared a little bit the midfield, let’s say,” he noted, pointing to how he outqualified both Alpine’s, who have recently dominated Red Bull.
When further asked about whether the Red Bull car feels better to drive, Verstappen said:
“It feels a bit more normal, a bit more together. It’ still not where I want it to be, obviously. But it’s at least allowing me to trust it a bit more. And I can, well I can basically take a bit more lap time out of it.”
Hadjar puzzled by lack of pace from his Red Bull in 2026 F1 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying
On the other side of the Red Bull garage, Isack Hadjar was left searching for answers after a difficult 2026 Miami GP Sprint Qualifying. He ultimately finished P9, sitting in between the Alpine duo, with surprise contender Franco Colapinto ahead in P8.
Reflecting on his performance, he said: “Well it was smooth, at least. I got through SQ3, which is a start. But then to be a second off, I don’t know why. I’ve never been more than a tenth off so far this year. When it mattered. So, yeah, I don’t know what’s going on.”
Hadjar began his 2026 F1 season strongly with a P3 qualifying result in Melbourne, but has since settled into a pattern of qualifying between P8 and P10. Therefore, heading into the Sprint and Grand Prix qualifying, he emphasized that work needs to be done with the team to find his lost time.
“Yeah, because I know I can drive. So, yeah,” he concluded.
