Red Bull’s Struggles in Miami: McLaren Dominate
Miami, FL — The Miami Grand Prix concluded with a stark realization for Red Bull Racing as Max Verstappen could only manage a disheartening fourth place, nearly 40 seconds behind the winner, Oscar Piastri of McLaren. Despite securing pole position, Verstappen found himself outpaced during the race, a situation described as "depressing" by team advisor Helmut Marko.
Verstappen’s struggles began at the start when contact with Lando Norris sent the McLaren driver into a spin, dropping him to sixth. Nevertheless, Piastri and Norris quickly surged past the Red Bull, reaffirming McLaren’s pace advantage. Verstappen lamented a significant lack of grip, losing approximately seven-tenths of a second per lap to the McLarens.
Marko expressed surprise at the findings, stating, "The main conclusion is we are too slow. We saw when they were driving flat out, we are seven-tenths behind." The disparity was highlighted when Verstappen couldn’t overtake George Russell during his second stint, ultimately finishing just ahead of him.
Red Bull faces an uphill battle as they prepare for further upgrades at the Imola race, including a new floor design for Verstappen. Marko acknowledged that catching up to McLaren’s pace would be challenging, especially on circuits prone to tire overheating, stating, "It has to be enough, but such a big step is difficult to catch up."
As McLaren celebrates a strong one-two finish, the pressure intensifies on Red Bull to address their performance issues in the upcoming rounds of the championship.
