Max Verstappen sees ‘light at the end of the tunnel’ after qualifying 2nd for Miami GP
Max Verstappen It is satisfied there may be “light at the end of the tunnel” for Red Bull after securing a entrance row begin at the Miami Grand Prix with a robust qualifying efficiency.
After struggling for efficiency and reliability at the opening three races of 2026, Verstappen lies ninth in the drivers’ standings forward of Sunday’s race, 59 factors behind championship chief Kimi Antonelli.
Wider frustrations with Formula 1’s new laws left the four-time champion questioning his future in the sequence past following the final spherical in Japan, however he appeared extra upbeat after securing second on the grid behind Antonelli in Miami.
“From here, there’s light at the end of the tunnel, and we can just push on and try to close the gap further,” Verstappen mentioned after qualifying.
The enchancment comes after a five-week break in racing on account of the cancellation of races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, permitting Red Bull to reach in Miami with a raft of modifications to its automotive.
The progress was evident in Miami’s dash race, through which Verstappen completed fifth, and the four-time champion mentioned he discovered one other step in efficiency in Saturday’s qualifying.
“So many things were not working up until this weekend, so for us bringing the car back together, also for me in the car itself, a few things have changed and it made it a lot more comfortable to drive,” Verstappen mentioned of the modifications. “I feel a lot more confidence and I don’t feel like I’m a passenger anymore in the car.
“That was already fairly evident yesterday [in sprint qualifying] after which I believe immediately the dash was not too dangerous.
“I could finally follow the cars ahead of me instead of them just pulling away and not seeing them again. And then some tiny changes for qualifying and it seemed like that helped again a little bit.
“I imply, to be on the entrance row coming from over a second behind in the earlier race is admittedly unbelievable.”
– Miami Grand Prix: Title leader Kimi Antonelli takes third consecutive pole ahead of Max Verstappen
– Miami Grand Prix: Lando Norris ends Mercedes dominance with sprint win, Oscar Piastri second
– Miami Grand Prix 2026: Race and F1 sprint start times, how to watch, full schedule, predictions
Asked to pinpoint which modifications to the automotive had made the largest distinction, Verstappen mentioned: “Honestly, it is every part, as a result of earlier than nothing actually labored. I felt like a complete passenger in the automotive.
“It could understand, it could snap on me, it could feel different from one session to the other one without even touching parts. So we understood a lot of stuff, I think.
“We’re nonetheless not the place we wish to be in phrases of understanding every part, however most of it. And yeah, that has proven that right here the automotive simply feels much more collectively. Yeah, I can lastly drive how I wish to drive, additionally with simply my steering inputs, and that helps so much.
“And then I think also with the energy management, I think everyone is learning every single weekend, so they are we. Of course, we are completely new manufacturers, so I think our learning curve is probably a little bit steeper. But yeah, they’re doing a really good job, and it’s just getting, let’s say, better and better every time.”
