Red Bull\u2019s resurgence was perhaps one of the biggest surprises of the Formula 1 weekend in Miami. Whereas the team indicated in Japan that it did not yet fully understand its problems with the RB22, it suddenly found itself back at the sharp end of the grid in Florida.<\/p>\n
Max Verstappen ultimately finished fifth, but that result does not tell the full story of the weekend. Verstappen\u2019s spin on the opening lap and his early pitstop somewhat masked Red Bull\u2019s true pace.<\/p>\n
The four-time world champion already told Dutch media that the effect of this upgrade package is a welcome confidence boost for the entire team. That also applies to technical director Pierre Wache, who after a difficult start to the season felt pressure to turn the situation around.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not easy, but I’m for sure disappointed with the result. I think the result [in Miami] doesn’t show our pace. But it’s good for the team to show that the car has some pace on it and that we are in the mix again,\u201d Wache\u00a0told Autosport after the Miami GP.<\/p>\n
The effect of Red Bull\u2019s upgrade has surprised many in the paddock. The team has closed the gap to the front of the field by a second compared to the Japanese Grand Prix, which is all the more remarkable given that McLaren and Ferrari also brought significant packages to Miami.<\/p>\n
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Wache indicates that he is not so surprised by the effect of the new parts themselves, but rather by the gains coming from\u00a0Verstappen feeling more comfortable in the car again.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt delivered what we expected. It’s just the package itself that has delivered. But after we fixed some other issues, that has also brought some Max performance that maybe we didn’t expect.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Watch: 2026 Miami GP: Antonelli Triumphs in Miami<\/p>\n
Wache\u00a0apologises for late solution to steering issue<\/p>\n
The latter is largely related to what Verstappen already shared during his Dutch media session after qualifying: Red Bull discovered and addressed an issue in the steering system.<\/p>\n
The technical department led by Wache\u00a0replaced the entire steering rack and also various \u201csupporting components\u201d ahead of a filming day in Silverstone and the Miami GP.<\/p>\n
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Verstappen indicated that he had already felt a steering issue from the very first lap during the Barcelona shakedown, raising the question of why Red Bull had not been able to solve it earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst, we had to make sure that he had an issue. Then it was about identifying where it was coming from, and that takes a long time. And after that, it was about fixing the problem,\u201d Wache\u00a0replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m sorry that we didn’t fix it before. We tried multiple stuff and it didn’t work. Some parts also took a long time to arrive, but I think the engineering team did a very good job to achieve it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked whether Red Bull only truly discovered the issue during the April break or already before that, the Frenchman continued:\u00a0\u201cA little bit before that. But the break gave us time to produce the parts, I would say. Otherwise, in Bahrain and Jeddah we would not have had the parts.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Red](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/red-bull-car-tech-detail.jpg\")
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Red Bull car tech detail<\/p>\n
Photo by: Getty Images<\/p>\n
Red Bull wanted to introduce Macarena wing already in Melbourne<\/p>\n
The aspect that stands out visually is Red Bull\u2019s own version of the Macarena wing. The team immediately made clear that the rotating wing concept was not copied from Ferrari and also works differently, something that was visible in Miami.<\/p>\n
Where the Ferrari wing can rotate up to 270 degrees in one direction, Red Bull\u2019s rotates up to 160 degrees in the opposite direction. It proved successful around the Hard Rock Stadium, although according to Wache\u00a0it has been quite a task to get the wing working as intended.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we started in November. We tried to introduce it in Bahrain, and then in Melbourne. We had some issues to make it work,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried again in\u00a0Suzuka, but we were struggling a lot. And now it works. It’s a long process to make this type of device happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked why it is so complex, Wache explained the main challenge is complying with all FIA regulations:\u00a0\u201cBecause the time that you have to open and close it is limited. And it’s a longer distance that is not exactly what we used to.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe also didn’t anticipate some issues because it’s a new system. Maybe it was our fault, [so there were] things that we had to fix. And after fixing, it takes time on top of the normal development of the car.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Max](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1777992611_136_max-verstappen-red-bull-racing.jpg\")
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Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing<\/p>\n
Photo by: Alastair Staley \/ LAT Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Red Bull plans further upgrade to hit the weight limit<\/p>\n
In terms of the normal development of the RB22, the Miami upgrade has been the second package, following earlier updates in Japan. Verstappen indicated that the Japan package did not bring any improvement, but that this step in Miami delivered as intended.<\/p>\n
The final question is when Red Bull will take the next major step in the development battle that the 2026 season is. Mercedes has announced upgrades for Montreal, but Red Bull will have to wait a little longer \u2013 also because the possibilities under the budget cap are not unlimited.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to wait a little bit longer, just a little step for Montreal,\u201d Wache\u00a0confirmed.<\/p>\n
The next major package is planned for the European season and will also include further weight reduction. Red Bull has already reduced the RB22\u2019s excess weight from 12 to six kilograms and hopes to reach the minimum weight after the first European races.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, I think there will be another step. I don’t know when, but we will have a weight reduction happening for maybe Austria,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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