Max Verstappen has firmly criticised the bumps in the Circuit of The Americas ahead of this weekend’s race in Austin, Texas. The Red Bull driver has been one of the competitive racers in the track but
the unfavourable conditions had to be pointed out. The American layout is known for its thrilling layout and high-speed sections and the racers do enjoy certain aspects.
However, the track has faced some structural issues over time due to the shifting Texas soil beneath it. This time, the fans and drivers have sparked a debate regarding the competitive nature of the track, questioning whether the safety of the drivers is compromised to maintain its tricky nature.
“I love this track, I love this place. It’s one of the best layouts ever and it’s one of the best venues, best city to be at. But for me the bumps are unacceptable. Over time they’ve been grinding a little bit here and there but it’s just putting a plaster on the big problem. But that of course means you need to really fully open up the track. That costs a lot of money and time but that’s the only way to get rid of it because these bumps are not natural and they are out of control.” stated Max Verstappen.
Max Verstappen has criticised the bumpy surface at Circuit of The Americas ahead of this weekend’s race in Austin, Texas 🗣️ https://t.co/RUhNpdpcyq
— Sky Sports F1 (@SkySportsF1) October 23, 2026
Max Verstappen raises concerns over 9G spinal impacts and headaches
The reason behind the bumpy nature of the track is because it was built on former marshland and that could make the maintenance complex especially for long-term maintenance. The reigning world champion didn’t accept the geographical complications of the soil but criticised the organisers.
He claimed that the organisers should have been conscious of the foundation during its construction and that such issues could have been avoided with precaution. Verstappen revealed that vertical loads exceeding 9G have impacted his spine as well, raising serious health concerns as he’s getting older.
“You can use the excuse that the soil is the problem but then you should have known that and you need to make sure that you reinforce it more; Last year, for example, you pull around 5-6G in a corner, but I had some impacts, vertical load, which was over 9G on my spine, which I can tell you is really not fun, and especially the older you get, you think about that more and more,” added Max Verstappen.
Lando Norris agreed with the view of Verstappen as he felt that the circuit doesn’t fit the normal standards of F1. The constant bumpy nature of the circuit causes drivers to experience physical pain and they even require headache medication before certain sessions.
However, George Russell claimed that every racing circuit needs regular repaving and that this is more than just an isolated crisis. The drivers would have felt that this was a serious issue to be discussed taking into consideration the health and safety of everyone.
As the grid prepares for an intense battle in Austin, the debate over driver safety, spinal health, and track longevity remains central ahead of the weekend. Max Verstappen has bluntly criticised the organisers and other racers such as Lando Norris and George Russell have joined in the debate as well. The organisers of the Circuit of The Americas would have to take into consideration the opinions of the expert drivers.
