Red Bull Racing introduced a broad aerodynamic upgrade to the RB22 for the Miami Grand Prix that drivers said improved competitiveness but did not eliminate the car’s weight, balance and pace problems. Max Verstappen called the package a significant step, saying it “almost halved” the deficit to this season’s frontrunners and that it made the car “feel more together,” yet he warned the car remained “very weak in the first sector.” Isack Hadjar offered a more cautious verdict, saying the changes “won’t solve all our issues,” that he did not expect to contend for a podium in Miami and that he was puzzled by roughly a one-second gap to Verstappen in sprint qualifying. Team principal Laurent Mekies described the updates as moving the team in the right direction and said Miami would be an initial test rather than an overnight fix.

The upgrade package touched nearly every aerodynamic surface of the RB22. Red Bull fitted an independently developed rotating rear wing, widely nicknamed the “Macarena,” reported to turn at about 160 to 180 degrees depending on accounts, and added wider sidepods featuring a waterslide-like ramp. Engineers also revised the front wing and corner inlets, the engine cover, the floor, and introduced an exhaust flap intended to increase aerodynamic load and stabilize airflow. The team carried out an off-track filming day at Silverstone to assess the changes and said the package aimed to improve simulation-to-track correlation and driver comfort.

The upgrades produced measurable gains but left key limitations. Verstappen used the new package to qualify fifth for the sprint, around 0.6 seconds off Lando Norris, and called it his best result of the season so far. Hadjar was slower in practice and qualifying after a five-week absence and said he expected to aim for Q3 and points rather than a podium. Reports vary on the RB22’s exact overweight figure, with estimates ranging from about 12 kilograms to roughly 30 kilograms, and Red Bull said it had trimmed roughly half of an earlier reported overweight. Teams and drivers said weight, setup window sensitivity, balance and tire management remain central problems that the Miami upgrades have improved but not yet fully solved.