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Red Bull Racing finally showed a pulse in Miami. Now, the team is heading to Montreal to prove it was not a fluke.
According to a new report from GrandPrix247, Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché confirmed the team will use the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix to further test and validate the new RB22 upgrade package.
The Milton Keynes squad brought a massive floor, bodywork, and active-aero “Macarena wing” update to the Miami Grand Prix. The results were an immediate step forward. Max Verstappen managed to qualify second behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. A Lap 1 spin ruined his chances at a podium, but Verstappen still recovered to cross the line in fifth. It marked Red Bull’s best finish of the 2026 season so far.
Waché was completely realistic about the team’s current standing. He noted the Miami package delivered “encouraging gains,” but it also exposed exactly where the RB22 chassis is still fundamentally flawed.
“It highlighted some car weaknesses and room of improvement to extract the overall performance,” Waché stated in a team press release, highlighted by RacingNews365. “Canada will be another good test of the package alongside some minor updates this weekend.”
May 3, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) during the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The updates also provided a much-needed morale boost inside the Red Bull garage. Verstappen’s young teammate, Isack Hadjar, suffered a frustrating DNF in Miami. However, he is eager to get back behind the wheel of the revised car. Speaking to Pit Debrief, Hadjar noted, “The Team delivered a much stronger package after the break, and we want to continue with that progress going into Montreal.”
The harsh reality is that Red Bull is hitting a moving target. Testing the RB22 upgrades at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a great plan. But their rivals are not standing still.
As we previously covered, McLaren is bringing a sweeping B-spec update to Canada. More importantly, Mercedes is scheduled to roll out their first major upgrade package for the dominant W17. Antonelli already holds a commanding 100-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Red Bull has finally built a car capable of fighting near the front. But if the minor tweaks slated for Montreal cannot extract more raw pace from the RB22, Verstappen will still be left staring at the back of a Mercedes gearbox.
Continue reading...
According to a new report from GrandPrix247, Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché confirmed the team will use the upcoming Canadian Grand Prix to further test and validate the new RB22 upgrade package.
The Milton Keynes squad brought a massive floor, bodywork, and active-aero “Macarena wing” update to the Miami Grand Prix. The results were an immediate step forward. Max Verstappen managed to qualify second behind Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli. A Lap 1 spin ruined his chances at a podium, but Verstappen still recovered to cross the line in fifth. It marked Red Bull’s best finish of the 2026 season so far.
Waché’s Honest Assessment
Waché was completely realistic about the team’s current standing. He noted the Miami package delivered “encouraging gains,” but it also exposed exactly where the RB22 chassis is still fundamentally flawed.
“It highlighted some car weaknesses and room of improvement to extract the overall performance,” Waché stated in a team press release, highlighted by RacingNews365. “Canada will be another good test of the package alongside some minor updates this weekend.”
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May 3, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (3) during the Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix at Miami International Autodrome. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The updates also provided a much-needed morale boost inside the Red Bull garage. Verstappen’s young teammate, Isack Hadjar, suffered a frustrating DNF in Miami. However, he is eager to get back behind the wheel of the revised car. Speaking to Pit Debrief, Hadjar noted, “The Team delivered a much stronger package after the break, and we want to continue with that progress going into Montreal.”
The Mercedes Target
The harsh reality is that Red Bull is hitting a moving target. Testing the RB22 upgrades at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is a great plan. But their rivals are not standing still.
As we previously covered, McLaren is bringing a sweeping B-spec update to Canada. More importantly, Mercedes is scheduled to roll out their first major upgrade package for the dominant W17. Antonelli already holds a commanding 100-point lead in the Drivers’ Championship.
Red Bull has finally built a car capable of fighting near the front. But if the minor tweaks slated for Montreal cannot extract more raw pace from the RB22, Verstappen will still be left staring at the back of a Mercedes gearbox.
Continue reading...
