Max Verstappen Prepares for Challenging Miami Grand Prix Sprint
Max Verstappen, the reigning four-time Formula 1 champion, anticipates a demanding sprint race at the Miami Grand Prix due to high temperatures and persistent understeer problems faced by Red Bull Racing.
During sprint qualifying, Verstappen clocked a second flying lap but ultimately secured fourth place, 0.25 seconds behind pole-sitter Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Despite his performance, he was summoned by the stewards for not adhering to minimum delta time regulations but received only a reprimand.
Verstappen commented on the conditions, noting, "It’s always very difficult to say how we’ll get on [in a sprint weekend]. There’s no real proper data in long runs," referencing the lack of comparable long-run data from competitors. Circuit temperatures were recorded at 50°C during qualifying, anticipated to remain high throughout the event.
An analysis of GPS data revealed that Verstappen was over two-tenths of a second faster than Antonelli until struggling with traction in the critical low-speed section of the track. “We’ve been strong in higher-speed areas, but the understeer is affecting our grip,” he acknowledged, reflecting on the car’s performance.
While Verstappen expressed disappointment at not qualifying higher, he accepted the situation realistically: "P4 is alright. It’s not where I want to be, but we need to consider our limitations."
The Miami Grand Prix sprint race is set to test Verstappen’s ability to manage heat and vehicle dynamics as he seeks to optimize his performance under challenging conditions.
