Can a track that rattles your spine be safe? Max Verstappen warned his spine is under strain after calling the Circuit of the Americas “out of control” and dangerously uneven.
The four‑time champion rolls into Austin for Sunday’s US Grand Prix, fresh from back‑to‑back wins that sparked his latest outburst.
During Thursday’s media round‑up, Verstappen broke his usual calm, blasting a circuit beloved by many for its layout but now plagued by severe vibration.
“The surface feels like a roller‑coaster,” he told reporters, recalling the brutal bumps he saw in the World Endurance Championship there.
“Honestly, I’m not looking forward to this on my spine,” he added, noting the joke from the last race was no laughing matter after years of complaints.
He admitted the team faces a tough balancing act, unsure how the car will cope with the relentless jolts that pepper the lap.
Verstappen’s message was clear: organisers must prioritize a smoother surface if the venue hopes to keep hosting F1 safely.
“Excuses about the soil won’t cut it; you need to reinforce it properly,” he urged, pointing to a deeper structural issue.
“I love this track, love the city – it’s a classic layout,” he said, “but the bumps are simply unacceptable.”
He explained that patchwork fixes only mask the underlying problem, likening it to a plaster over a cracked wall.
“The real solution is a full‑scale rebuild,” he argued, acknowledging the cost but insisting it’s the only way to eliminate the unnatural bumps.
Medical scans have revealed the lower part of Verstappen’s spine looks “far from ideal,” adding a personal health angle to his concerns.
“People don’t realise how my spine’s bottom end is suffering,” he explained, citing recent checks that show worrying wear.
“Racing always takes a toll, but the extra strain from these bumps could cause lasting damage,” he warned.
“If we keep treating this as acceptable, the injuries will only worsen,” he concluded.
Lando Norris says he is ‘allowed to race’ teammate Oscar Piastri despite McLaren suffering a double DNF in the Singapore GP Sprint Race.
Lando Norris admitted he reaches for headache tablets before tackling particularly rough circuits, a habit born of necessity.
Norris added that a brand‑new COTA would likely fail to meet current F1 standards, let alone an aging one.
“New tracks must meet strict tolerances,” he said, noting the old circuit falls short of today’s regulations.
“It’s rough,” Norris confessed, “I need medication just to handle the jolts that hit my head and neck.”
He lamented that drivers can only complain so much; the issue has been raised repeatedly with little change.
George Russell described the bumps as “just part of racing,” yet voiced concern over deteriorating track quality overall.
“It’s bumpy, but that’s racing,” he said, while suggesting regular repaving could restore consistency across the calendar.
He argued that modern F1 cars sit just a centimetre above the ground, so any imperfection is felt intensely.
Russell noted the shift to 18‑inch wheels has reduced tyre sidewall height, stripping away a natural suspension element.
“The tyre’s circumference stays the same, but the rim is larger, so we’ve lost that built‑in damper,” he explained, calling the situation far from ideal.
Friday October 23
6pm: United States Grand Prix Practice One (session starts at 6.30pm)*
8pm: The F1 Show
9.45pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Two (session starts at 10pm)*
11.50pm: F1 Academy Race 1*
Saturday October 24
6.15pm: United States Grand Prix Practice Three (session starts at 6.30pm)
8.30pm: United States Grand Prix Qualifying build-up*
10pm: UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING*
12am: F1 Academy Race 2*
12.45am: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday October 25
5pm: F1 Academy Race 3
6.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday: United States GP build-up*
8pm: THE UNITED STATES GRAND PRIX*
10pm: Chequered Flag: United States GP reaction
11pm: Ted’s Notebook
More from United States GP 2026
Norris: I need to take headache tablets