AUSTIN, Texas — After joking in Singapore he would need a “new spine” as the result of the bumpy surface at Circuit of the Americas, Max Verstappen doubled down at Thursday’s Media Day.
Verstappen explained that the physical toll of the track surface is expected to be worse this weekend due to the lower ride heights teams have achieved in 2026. “So in most places on the braking, especially, you actually bottom more than before, because most of the bumps are on the breaking or in the corner, not on the actual straight.”
In perhaps the most blunt assessment of the circuit, Max said plainly, “The bumps that we have are unacceptable.”
Verstappen called on race organizers to take action, saying, “Over time, they've been grinding a little bit here and there, but it's just [as if] you're putting 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 honestly that's the only way to get rid of it because these bumps are not natural and they are out of control.”
The concerns of the four-time World Champion extend beyond drivability and expose concerns over driver safety, “Last year, for example, you pull around 5-6G in a corner, but I had some impacts, like vertical load, which was like 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.”
Further down the paddock, Lando Norris echoed the concerns of his Red Bull rival. When Norris heard Verstappen’s comments about the bumps, he agreed immediately. “I mean, it's pretty bad. There's a lot of places [that are bumpy]. I need to take headache tablets before I go out, simply because it's so bumpy.
“You're hitting your head pretty hard against the headrests and things because of the bumps, so it's certainly not a nice thing.”
Despite the health implications of these repeated impacts, Norris doubted that changes will come anytime soon. “It's stuff we brought up many times, but there's only so much we can complain [about]."
While some fans may consider the physical toll of these bumps to be an occupational hazard, Verstappen disagrees. “People can say ‘yeah, but you know there are worse sports out there for damage to parts of your body’ for sure, but that's why I'm not doing them.”