Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen is preparing for a challenging sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix, confronting intense heat and persistent understeer issues with his Red Bull car at low speeds. The sprint qualifying session revealed some of these struggles, with Verstappen finishing fourth, just a quarter of a second behind Andrea Kimi Antonelli‘s pole time, despite being the only driver to complete two flying laps. Temperatures at the Miami International Autodrome soared to around 50°C during qualifying, a brutal environment that Verstappen expects to persist through the weekend.
Verstappen’s approach during sprint qualifying saw him improve his lap on the second attempt, moving ahead of George Russell who also made an early run. However, Verstappen was called in by the stewards for allegedly disregarding the minimum delta time instructions issued by the race director, resulting in a reprimand but no further penalty. Despite these setbacks, he remained cautious but determined, acknowledging the difficulties posed by the physical conditions and car balance.
Honestly, it’s always very difficult to say [how we’ll get on] in a sprint weekend,
Verstappen explained.
There’s no real proper data in long runs, because you don’t know what others are doing with fuel loads and stuff. But just going off my own feeling with how I also felt just balance-wise with the car, I think it will be tough with the heat. Like I said, we know our limitations, so we just need to try and make the best of it.
Telemetry data showed Verstappen held a lead of over two tenths of a second on Antonelli during the final tour, but he lost that advantage by the time he reached Turn 11. His biggest challenge came through the slow-speed corners, particularly the Turn 14-15-16 complex, where he struggled to find enough traction and consequently dropped more time compared to his rivals.
Verstappen noted the Red Bull’s strengths lie in high-speed sections of the track, yet the low-speed understeer remains a significant handicap.
I think what we also did in Q3 was good,
he said.
The tyres are holding on quite well, but fortunately, already from FP1, just driving with a lot of understeer in the car and around here with all these low-speed corners, you just lose quite a bit of lap time.
I think you can see in the first sector we’re quite competitive because that’s where a few high-speed corners are, but as soon as you get to the low speed, we just lack quite a bit of grip. But P4 is alright. It’s not where I want to be, but you also need to be realistic with the limitations that we have at the moment, and I think it was still quite close.
The combination of extreme heat and technical challenges from the car threatens to make this weekend a stressful test of Verstappen’s skill and adaptability. The Miami Grand Prix sprint race puts intense pressure on drivers, offering fewer opportunities to recover lost time or positions. Verstappen’s team must work swiftly to address understeer issues if he is to maintain a strong position going into the main race.
How Verstappen manages these conditions could have significant implications for his championship ambitions. Poor performance in Miami, where conditions are so demanding, risks handing an advantage to rivals better suited to the circuit’s unique demands. As temperatures remain high and technical hurdles persist, Verstappen faces an uphill battle, highlighting the urgency for Red Bull to find improvements.
This sprint race will reveal much about Verstappen’s ability to handle adversity and the efficacy of Red Bull’s setup modifications under extreme demands. Fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if the four-time world champion can turn these challenges into an opportunity to showcase his resilience and strategic prowess on one of the most physically testing circuits of the Formula 1 calendar.
