Verstappen Credits Red Bull’s Late Tweaks for….Read More
Max Verstappen praised his Red Bull team for making crucial last-minute changes to his RB21, which he said played a significant role in his unexpected pole position at the Miami Grand Prix. The reigning Formula 1 world champion secured his third pole of the season on a dramatic day that began with frustration and ended in triumph.
Verstappen’s day started poorly in the sprint race, where he was classified last following a penalty for an incident that he insisted wasn’t his fault. However, he bounced back impressively just hours later by setting the fastest lap in qualifying, beating McLaren’s Lando Norris and Mercedes’ Andrea Kimi Antonelli. His best time of 1:26.204 also set a new outright lap record at the Miami International Autodrome.
Speaking after the session, Verstappen admitted that pole position had come as a surprise, especially considering the team’s earlier struggles. He revealed that following the sprint race, Red Bull engineers made minor adjustments to his car setup that helped fine-tune its performance heading into qualifying. These small tweaks allowed Verstappen to improve his pace gradually throughout each qualifying session.
“To get pole today was a bit unexpected,” Verstappen admitted. “The sprint didn’t go well at all because of the penalty, and there wasn’t much we could do after that. But we refocused for qualifying. The team made some small changes to the car after the sprint, and during qualifying we just chipped away at improving the setup session by session.”
While Verstappen acknowledged that the RB21 still has areas for improvement, particularly in slow-speed corners, he was pleased that he and the team were able to deliver a clean and competitive lap when it mattered most.
“I don’t think we’re the fastest car over a single lap,” he added, “but we were able to put together a solid lap without mistakes, and that’s what matters in qualifying. It’s always a team effort, and we’re paying attention to every small detail to get the most out of the car.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s race, Verstappen cautioned that dry conditions could expose some weaknesses in Red Bull’s pace, but he remained optimistic about the potential impact of rain.
“If it’s dry tomorrow, I don’t think we have the same performance edge,” he said. “But if it’s wet, anything can happen, so we need to be sharp. We have decent pace, and the goal is to maximize everything.”
Verstappen’s pole is a strong response to his earlier setback and underscores both his resilience and Red Bull’s ability to adapt quickly under pressure.
