Max Verstappen finished fifth in the Miami Grand Prix, expressing concern over his team's ongoing struggles for pace. The four-time world champion acknowledged improvements to his Red Bull car but noted that it wasn’t enough to contend for victory.
Verstappen's race began with a setback when he spun out on the opening lap, forcing an early pit stop. "I lost the rear and tried to minimize the time loss," he explained.
He added that the hard tires did not perform well early in the race, causing him to drop down the field. "Maybe I could’ve been in the place Oscar finished (third), but it’s always easy to say that afterwards," he remarked.
Despite the car's upgrades, Verstappen admitted the team still lacks the necessary pace to compete for wins. "It was tough. We've improved a lot this weekend, but still lack a bit and for sure there's more pace to unlock," he stated.
Verstappen's teammate, Isack Hadjar, faced his own challenges, starting from the back of the grid and crashing out on lap six. The incident triggered a Safety Car period that ultimately benefited Verstappen.
"It was a tough one and breaking the car is pissing me off a lot," Hadjar commented. "It just shows how much you need to be focused and I wasn’t."
Looking Ahead
As the season progresses, Verstappen is hopeful that the team can unlock more performance from their car. He remains determined to improve and reclaim a competitive edge.