Verstappen raises concern over Austin bumps as Norris backs criticism

Max Verstappen has criticised the uneven surface at the United States Grand Prix venue in Austin, warning about the physical strain on drivers and the potential for harder impacts under Formula 1's latest regulations. BBC Sport reported that Lando Norris supported his concerns, while George Russell described the bumps as part of racing but advocated more frequent resurfacing.

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The circuit was built on former marshland, which has complicated efforts to maintain a consistent surface. Verstappen rejected the ground conditions as a sufficient explanation for leaving the problem unresolved, arguing that the underlying soil should have been taken into account and the track reinforced. His criticism focused on changes beneath the surface as well as the bumps drivers encounter.

Verstappen said he experienced vertical loads of more than 9G on his spine at the venue last year, compared with the 5-6G he described experiencing through a corner. He also said checks on the lower part of his spine had produced concerning results. Those comments were his own account of the physical effects; BBC Sport's report did not provide a medical diagnosis.

The four-time champion believes the latest cars could make the problem worse in certain conditions. Although the previous generation generally operated at lower ride heights, he said the current cars run lower through corners. The transition from open wings on straights to closed wings for corners brings the cars closer to the ground under braking, increasing his concern about heavy contact with the track.

Norris said the surface was far outside the tight tolerances expected when building a new circuit. The McLaren driver described his head striking the headrest over bumps and said there were venues where he took headache tablets before driving. He added that drivers had repeatedly raised the issue, but expressed frustration about how much further their complaints could achieve.

Russell offered a different emphasis, accepting the bumpy conditions as an element of racing while calling for Formula 1 tracks to be repaved every couple of years. The Mercedes driver also pointed to deteriorating asphalt at venues on the calendar. His comments supported more consistent maintenance, even as he stopped short of matching Verstappen's criticism of the Austin conditions.