Max Verstappen may have spun out on the opening lap, but the four-time Formula 1 champion fought back to finish fifth at the Miami Grand Prix—his best result of the season. While it's a step in the right direction, the Dutch driver made it clear that Red Bull still has work to do.

After a five-week break in the F1 calendar, Red Bull brought upgrades to Miami, and Verstappen finally got to test them in race conditions. The result? A gritty drive from the back of the pack that showed flashes of the champion's trademark resilience. But for a driver who's been openly critical of current car regulations—even hinting at leaving the sport—fifth place isn't enough to silence the concerns.

"My car drives a bit better," Verstappen admitted after qualifying a season-best second on Saturday. "But what I said before about the regulations is the same... It's still not how I would like to see it."

The race started with chaos. Verstappen, trying to hold off Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, lost the rear into Turn 2 and spun from second to ninth. But in true champion fashion, he turned a near-crash into a highlight reel moment. "I thought I was going to crash, but then I floored it and managed to do a good 360," Verstappen joked. "If F1 doesn't work out, I could always go rally racing."

From there, Verstappen carved through the midfield, briefly taking the lead during pit stops. He gambled on a one-stop strategy, but the hard compound tires proved difficult to manage over a long stint. "After the spin, the pace wasn't too bad on the mediums," he said. "But as soon as I swapped to the hards, it was just a lot more difficult."

Meanwhile, Leclerc's strong start from third ultimately unraveled with a costly move on the penultimate lap, leaving him sixth. The win went to Mercedes' Kimi Antonelli, who capitalized on the early chaos.

For Verstappen, Miami offered a glimmer of hope—but not enough to quiet the doubts. As the season rolls on, all eyes will be on Red Bull to see if they can give their star driver the car he's demanding.