Max Verstappen has identified two crucial factors behind Red Bull’s dramatic qualifying turnaround at the Miami Grand Prix, where he secured a surprise second-place grid position alongside pole-sitter Kimi Antonelli. The three-time world champion described seeing “light at the end of the tunnel” after what he acknowledged had been a challenging start to the season for the Austrian team.
The 27-year-old Dutchman attributed the unexpected improvement to both technical developments and personal comfort with the RB20 machine. “For sure, the car has not been great in the previous races, but also, from my side, I never felt comfortable with the layout of the car,” Verstappen explained. He praised his team’s relentless efforts over recent weeks to deliver upgrades and adjust the car’s setup to better suit his driving style.
Verstappen emphasized how the combination of technical progress and improved driver comfort had created a positive feedback loop. “I think over those last few weeks, the team has been pushing flat out to try and bring upgrades to the car and making me feel more comfortable with a lot of things in the car, and it really paid off,” he said. “I feel more in control of the car again, and then I can push a bit more, then the upgrades are working.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s 57-lap race, Verstappen acknowledged that adverse weather conditions could create an unpredictable scenario at the Miami International Autodrome. However, his immediate focus remains on addressing a persistent weakness this season – poor starts from the grid. “Let’s first start with a good start, I’ve not had a lot of them this year,” he admitted, noting that both he and Antonelli have struggled with race launches in 2024.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding race conditions, Verstappen expressed satisfaction with Red Bull’s progress and optimism for continued improvement. “I’m already very happy where we are. From here, there’s light at the end of the tunnel that we can just push on and try to close the gap further,” he concluded, suggesting the team’s recent developments could mark a turning point in their championship campaign.