Red Bull label Miami GP a 'season reboot' after early 2026 struggles
Photo: Race Pictures
16:31, 30 Apr
0 Comments
Henry Eccles is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs, and features across the F1 calendar. Since joining in 2026, he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has said the upcoming Miami GP represents a "reboot for the season" following a poor opening three races in 2026. However, the French boss has tempered expectations that the team will have fixed all of their early issues.
Red Bull have started the 2026 season on the back foot, debuting a Ford-backed powertrain the team's main issues actually lie with the balance of their RB22, a car Verstappen labelled "completely undriveable" during a point-less Chinese GP weekend.
A poor set of results in the opening three rounds sees Red Bull sat in P6 in the Constructors', behind Haas and Alpine, while drivers Verstappen and Isack Hadjar are currently placed P9 and P12, respectively.
Following the five-week break enforced due to the US-Iran conflict, teams have had the time to develop and refine the complicated 2026 cars, and will also have the added variables of recent tweaks to the new rules set to be introduced at Miami.
Red Bull are no different, with Mekies saying the team have been working "flat out" on improving both their chassis and PU, with the aim of delivering a "more comfortable" car for Verstappen and Hadjar to push with.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mekies tempers expectations despite 'season reboot' in Miami
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
In a Red Bull press release, Mekies said: "Everyone at Oracle Red Bull Racing is excited to be going racing again after the enforced break.
"There is no denying that these past few weeks have proved useful for teams, the FIA and Formula 1: for the teams to further develop these very new cars and for all three parties to work together to fine tune the regulations based on learnings from the first three Grands Prix."
The Red Bull boss focused on the 'season reboot' at Miami with a degree of optimism, highlighting both Verstappen and Hadjar's role during the five-week hiatus, but wary that rivals will also have had the time to develop more competitive 2026 challengers.
ADVERTISEMENT
Mekies continued: "Effectively, Miami will be a reboot for the season, after this unexpected and exceptionally long hiatus.
"As for ourselves, everyone has been working flat out in Milton Keynes on the Chassis side and PU side, with Max and Isack also involved.
"We do not expect to have solved all our issues in one go, however we certainly aim to give Max and Isack a car they will feel more comfortable to push with. Ultimately only the Miami track will reveal the answer to how good a job we have done and how much we still need to find."
Mekies concluded with a special nod to the Miami GP as the first American race for the new Red Bull Ford power unit partnership.
"The Miami GP is also the first of three races to be held in the USA this season and is therefore a significant moment for us, as Red Bull Ford Powertrains makes its North American debut."
ADVERTISEMENT
Read more about:
latest news
Miami Grand Prix
Overview
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
04:00 PM
Qualification
08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
08:00 PM
Friday 01.05.26
Practice 1
Fri 04:00 PM
Sprint Qualification
Fri 08:30 PM
Saturday 02.05.26
Sprint Race
Sat 04:00 PM
Qualification
Sat 08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
Race
Sun 08:00 PM
Times are in your local timezone
Rumors
Popular on GPBlog
1
Antonelli set for Miami media duties as Verstappen and Hamilton missing
1046 times read
2
Marko names illustrious F1 star who failed to fulfil his real potential
1015 times read
3
F1 LIVE: Follow Miami media day as F1 returns after the forced month-long break
733 times read
4
F1 Today | Mekies addresses Verstappen's future over 'GP' exit, Silverstone offers extra race in F1 calendar
643 times read
F1-stand 2026
Season
| Pos. | Driver | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | MercedesMER | 72 | |
2 | MercedesMER | 63 | |
3 | FerrariFER | 49 | |
4 | FerrariFER | 41 | |
5 | McLarenMCL | 25 | |
6 | McLarenMCL | 21 | |
7 | HaasHAA | 17 | |
8 | AlpineALP | 15 | |
9 | Red Bull RacingRBR | 12 | |
10 | Racing BullsRCB | 10 |
Loading
