During the Miami Grand Prix Sprint, Max Verstappen faced a frustrating moment when he was instructed to relinquish his position to Lewis Hamilton after an overtake that went beyond track limits. Verstappen vented his frustration over the radio, questioning Hamilton's pace as he failed to pull away after the position change. However, Verstappen quickly regained his composure and executed a clean overtaking maneuver on Hamilton later in the race, finishing in fifth place. This result marked Verstappen's best performance of the 2026 season so far, showcasing the improved pace of the Red Bull RB22, which had received upgrades ahead of the race. Verstappen's qualifying performance also indicated progress, as he set a competitive time of 1:28.461, just under six tenths off the pole. The team is optimistic about further improvements as they prepare for the main race.