Max Verstappen still does not know what to make of the new floor on his RB21, contending how the "weird" Miami International Autodrome prevented him getting an accurate read.
The Red Bull driver took pole position for the Miami Grand Prix, but was powerless to prevent the McLarens of Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris surging past him on race day. He eventually finished fourth, behind George Russell, as well.
After introducing further developments to its new floor in Florida, the Milton Keynes squad would have hoped to have taken a step forward, or at the least garnered a clear understanding of how it was working.
The former evidently did not happen, and nor did the latter, according to the Dutchman, who believes the team will have to wait until the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to better establish what impact the upgrade is having.
"It's not negative in any case," the 27-year-old told Dutch media, including RacingNews365, after qualifying on pole in Miami.
"I find it very difficult to think anything about that at this track. It all feels very weird here. And the corners are all just weird. I think we'll know more when we go to Imola."
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Red Bull's tyre conundrum
A key distinction between McLaren and Red Bull - and even F1 rivals such as Mercedes and Ferrari - has been the constructors' champions ability to manage tyre wear and prevent excessive overheating.
It is something that has become a contentious subject in the paddock, with Red Bull seeking unearth the Woking squad's methods.
Conversely, it has been a prominent, season-defining issue for the Christian Horner-led outfit.
Whilst it is exacerbated at circuits that put the tyres under more stress - such as in Bahrain, where Verstappen struggled throughout the weekend - it has proven a consistent problem elsewhere, too.
However, the four-time F1 drivers' champion feels it could be some time before the team has the answers it is searching for - and even longer before it can deliver on those sought-after findings.
"We are of course doing our best to solve it, but some things all take a bit longer, also to understand it all properly," the 64-time grand prix winner said.
"To then also produce it is another story."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365's Sam Coop and Nick Golding, as they look back on the biggest talking points from the Miami Grand Prix. Ferrari's radio tension, Oscar Piastri taking charge and Max Verstappen needing to change his McLaren approach are major discussions.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
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