Verstappen Admits Red Bull Still Lacking Despite Closing Gap to Norris in Miami Sprint

Context Red Bull arrived at Miami with a new rear‑wing concept inspired by Ferrari’s flip‑flop design, aiming to recover performance lost in earlier races. The team has been struggling in high‑speed sectors, losing over a second to rivals in recent events. Qualifying for the sprint offered the first chance to test the upgrades in a competitive session.

Key Facts Verstappen told reporters the car is “still not where I want it to be” but described the session as a positive step. He trailed pole‑sitter Norris by six‑tenths of a second in Sprint Qualifying. He started fifth and finished ahead of Russell’s Mercedes and Hamilton’s Ferrari, placing him on the third row.

What It Means The gap to Norris has been cut from more than a second to six‑tenths, indicating the upgrades are delivering measurable improvement. Persistent weakness in the first sector suggests further aerodynamic work is needed. Teams will watch whether Red Bull can close the remaining gap in the main Grand Prix race on Sunday.