Verstappen laments spin and struggle for pace in Miami

Red Bull Racing's Dutch driver Max Verstappen said his car had made improvements but there was still progress to be made (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU)

(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP/AFP)

Max Verstappen said Red Bull had improved a lot but still lack the pace and performance to challenge for wins, after finishing fifth in Sunday's Miami Grand Prix.

The four-time world champion enjoyed driving a heavily upgraded car as he sought success for the first time this year, but was set back by a spin on the opening lap.

"I lost the rear and tried to minimize the time loss," he said of his chaotic first lap, which led to him making an early pit stop.

"Early on, the hard tire didn't work for us and it was tough," he added. "We dropped quite heavily down the pack.

"Maybe I could've been in the place Oscar finished (third) if we did enough, but it's always easy to say that afterwards."

"Unfortunately, we are still lacking a bit, but we'll be better. I don't know how much more pace there is."

The Dutch racer, 28, said that despite the car's improvements, he did not think he could have realistically fought for the win in Miami.

"It was tough," he said. "We've improved a lot this weekend, but still lack a bit and for sure there's more pace to unlock."

Verstappen's Red Bull teammate Isack Hadjar started from the back of the grid after being disqualified from qualifying and then crashed out of the race on lap six.

He hit the barriers in the chicane and the crash triggered a Safety Car interval that helped Verstappen by giving him a cheap pit stop.

"It was a tough one and for me, obviously, breaking the car is pissing me off a lot," said Hadjar. "It was easy points today considering the car I had so I feel I just threw it all away.

"I can't really remember what happened because it went so very quickly. It felt like it was a big hit and I didn't see it coming. The car was broken and I couldn't stop it.

"It just shows how much you need to be focused and I wasn't."

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