Motorsport · Austin
Verstappen calls Austin's bumps unacceptable and warns of spine damage before US Grand Prix
Max Verstappen calls the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas unacceptable and says the lower part of his spine does not look good, ahead of the race on Sunday, 25 October.
AI text based on reports by NOS, SAPO, Fanpage and other publishers. Published . How it is made
In brief
He says the lower part of his spine does not look good after tests, and reports vertical loads above 9 g during some impacts.
The circuit sits on clay-rich ground that swells and contracts. This year the surface was redone from the entry of turn 9 to turn 11, and smoothed at turns 12 and 19.
Lando Norris takes headache tablets before driving at some venues, and George Russell has proposed fully resurfacing tracks every two years.
A warning before the race
Max Verstappen has called the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas unacceptable ahead of the United States Grand Prix in Austin. Speaking before the race weekend, the Red Bull driver said the lower part of his spine does not look good after examinations he had done. Before arriving in Texas he joked that he would end up needing a new spine, but he took a more serious tone when he turned to the track. He said the problem has been raised for years and that it is now getting out of hand. Verstappen also praised the circuit and its layout.
“I had tests done on my spine, and I can tell you: the bottom part doesn't look very good.”
Why the bumps persist
The circuit was built on clay-rich ground that swells when it rains and contracts in heat, and that movement pushes the asphalt out of shape from below. Verstappen argues that resurfacing has only been a patch on a bigger problem, and that the ground beneath the track must be reinforced first. This year the surface was redone from the entry of turn 9 to the entry of turn 11, and smoothed at the entries to turns 12 and 19. Similar work was done in the same areas ahead of the 2026 season, and the entire track was resurfaced two years before the 2024 United States Grand Prix. These measures are seen as temporary fixes that will give way again.
Drivers describe the strain
Lando Norris says he has to take headache tablets before driving at several venues, because the bumps make his head knock against the headrest. He said the Austin track does not meet the FIA's current construction standards, and that a new track built today would need much smaller tolerances. George Russell agreed that the situation is not ideal, and has proposed that Formula 1 tracks be fully resurfaced every two years. Jeroen Bleekemolen, a former Le Mans 24 Hours class winner in LMP2 who raced at Austin himself, says he has had back pain every day for years. He explained that heavy braking loads the back, and that bumps add jolts on top of that.
Cars and the new rules
Verstappen links the problem to the current cars, which run at very low ride heights. Drivers touch the ground more than before when braking, and most of the bumps occur at exactly those moments, he said. He also warned that the 2026 cars could make the situation worse. He put the cornering loads he felt in 2025 at 5 to 6 g in some sections, and vertical loads on his spine above 9 g during some impacts.
“But we have been raising this problem for years, and it is getting a bit out of hand now.”
Race weekend and the title race
Practice starts on Friday, 23 October, qualifying is set for Saturday, 24 October, and the race takes place on Sunday, 25 October. Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings on 340 points after the Singapore race, ahead of George Russell on 238 and Lewis Hamilton on 229. Max Verstappen is fourth on 221 points, and Lando Norris sixth on 201. According to SRF, Antonelli could be crowned the youngest world champion in history in Austin, but he needs a win and poor results from his rivals.
- Kimi Antonelli
- 340 points
- George Russell
- 238 points
- Lewis Hamilton
- 229 points
- Max Verstappen
- 221 points
- Charles Leclerc
- 215 points
- Lando Norris
- 201 points
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Sources and context
- NOSVerstappen fears bumps in Austin and had back examined: “Does not look good”Verstappen vreest hobbels in Austin en liet rug onderzoeken: 'Ziet er niet best uit' · original in Dutch
- SAPOMax Verstappen criticizes the irregularities of the Austin circuit as unacceptableMax Verstappen critica as irregularidades do circuito de Austin, como inaceitáveis · original in Portuguese
- SAPOMax Verstappen reveals spine damage after years of competitionMax Verstappen revela danos na coluna após anos de competição · original in Portuguese
- FanpageMax Verstappen: “I had checks on my spine, it is in bad shape. The Austin track is unacceptable”Max Verstappen: "Ho fatto controlli alla mia colonna vertebrale, è messa male. La pista di Austin è inaccettabile · original in Italian
- Max Verstappen
- Red Bull Formula 1 driver and four-time world champion who criticised the Austin track
- Lando Norris
- McLaren Formula 1 driver who says the bumps force him to take headache tablets
- George Russell
- Mercedes Formula 1 driver who agrees the track situation is not ideal
- Kimi Antonelli
- Mercedes Formula 1 driver who leads the championship standings and could become the youngest world champion
- Jeroen Bleekemolen
- Former endurance racer and Le Mans 24 Hours LMP2 class winner who describes long-term back pain
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