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Circuit of the Americas boss Bobby Epstein has responded to Max Verstappen's claims that the track's bumps are spiralling out of control. The Austin chief insisted that the vast majority of the circuit is in prime condition, with the exception of Turn 1, where the issue cannot be resolved overnight.
Ahead of the United States Grand Prix weekend, Verstappen branded the surface in Texas completely unacceptable. Following the Singapore GP, the Red Bull driver had jokingly suggested he would need a new spine after Austin, but his tone turned markedly serious on the eve of the race weekend.
"I made a joke after the last race, but honestly, it is not a joke. We have been saying the same thing for years, and it's getting out of hand. I love this track, the layout is one of the best in the world, and the city is fantastic. But these bumps are simply unacceptable. Over the years, they've ground down patches here and there, but that is just putting a plaster on a major issue," the Dutchman said.
Verstappen went further, revealing that the bumpy circuits in Formula 1 have taken a toll on his back, raising long-term concerns as his career progresses. He explained that medical scans had already revealed damage to his lower spine.
Epstein: No quick fix for the dip at Turn 1
Speaking to ESPN, Bobby Epstein did not completely brush off the criticism. He conceded there is a flaw in the braking zone for Turn 1, but maintained that the rest of the circuit is in pristine shape, citing feedback from World Endurance Championship drivers who recently raced in Austin.
"We hate that there's a dip at the bottom of Turn 1. We only discovered it this week, otherwise we would have fixed it. But the other bumps Max is talking about are gone. The track is in really great shape. I spoke to drivers from the endurance championship, and they confirmed they had no complaints. Turn 1 is the only trouble spot, and I find it unacceptable too. The problem is that it's a dip, not a bump. If it were a bump, we could grind it down overnight, as has been done at other tracks. But with a dip, there's no quick and easy fix," Epstein explained.
Following Friday's practice sessions, the reigning world champion reiterated that the surface remains a demanding challenge, even though he offered a largely positive verdict on the start to his weekend.
"The weekend started well. This track is never easy when you are trying to dial in the balance between the slow and high-speed corners. The bumps make finding the right rhythm with the car even tougher. That is precisely what we worked on between the sessions. There are still details to iron out, but it was certainly a solid day," Verstappen concluded.
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