Verstappen reports 'really positive step' for Red Bull after Miami Sprint Qualifying
Photo: Race Pictures
Updated: 00:19, 02 May
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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he has produced high-volume reporting on the sport’s biggest stories, alongside feature pieces including analysis and historical content.
Max Verstappen has praised "a really positive step" for Red Bull following the conclusion of Sprint Qualifying at the Miami Grand Prix. The four-time world champion finished P5, six tenths behind the pole sitter Lando Norris, but ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton, respectively.
The Dutchman will surely be buoyed by his more positive start to the weekend in Miami, currently sat P9 in the Drivers' championship, and having endured a point-less weekend at the last Sprint event in Shanghai.
Speaking to Sky F1, Verstappen said he feels Red Bull "have halved" their gap to championship leaders Mercedes. The Austrian team are 119 points behind the Silver Arrows after the first three races of the season, in P6 behind Haas and Alpine.
Verstappen said: "It feels more together. Of course, there are still things that we are working on, but it's been a really positive step for us. You know, last few races we were like over a second behind. I would say we have almost halved that gap now, so that's positive."
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Verstappen hails "more together" RB22 in Miami
Photo: Race Pictures
The Dutchman examined his Sprint Qualifying at Miami, lamenting a lack of high speed in the first sector, but still praising a "more together" RB22. "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 said.
Verstappen was brought up on his previous comments on the RB22, which he had branded "undriveable" at the Chinese GP. "It feels a bit more normal, a bit more together. It's 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 basically take a bit more lap time out of it."
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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
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Sunday 03.05.26
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Sprint Qualification
Fri 08:30 PM
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Sat 08:00 PM
Sunday 03.05.26
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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 |
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