Red Bull's 'encouraging' upgrades spark cautious optimism

Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché has described the upgrade package introduced at the Miami Grand Prix as “encouraging” after a difficult start to the season. The Milton Keynes-based squad, which hasn't challenged for podiums in 2026, hopes the step forward will help close the gap to the frontrunners.

Why it matters:

Red Bull entered the season aiming to retain its place at the sharp end of the grid, but instead slipped down the order. Its best result so far is a fifth-place finish through Max Verstappen in Miami. With the field tightening, any meaningful progress is critical to avoid falling further behind in the constructors' championship.

The details:

• After the Miami weekend, the team's tone shifted positively. Waché noted: "Miami saw us take a clear step forward, with the upgrade package delivering encouraging gains in performance and helping address some key areas on the car."
• However, he acknowledged the upgrades also highlighted specific weaknesses: "It highlighted some car weaknesses and room of improvement to extract the overall performance."
• Red Bull will continue development with minor updates for Montreal, treating it as another test of the new package.

What's next:

Waché expects car development to accelerate as the European season begins: "Canada will be another good test of the package alongside some minor updates... we expect car development to be made as we head into the European races." The team must prove that the Miami gains are repeatable and that the underlying weaknesses can be addressed quickly.