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The extreme bumps at the Circuit of the Americas fail to meet Formula 1 standards and pose a genuine threat to driver health, according to Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto and former world champion Max Verstappen.
The Austin venue is notorious for its undulating surface, caused by the unstable clay substrate beneath it. The soil expands in wet weather and contracts when dry, constantly warping and shifting the tarmac despite ongoing efforts from circuit promoters to maintain it.
During the circuit's initial construction, the ground was excavated to a depth of three metres for a specialised multi-layered base, yet the bump issues have steadily worsened over time. Ahead of this year's race, organisers laid new asphalt from the entry of Turn 9 to Turn 11 and ground down uneven sections ahead of Turns 12 and 19.
Despite these measures, Max Verstappen warned that the track's condition takes a severe toll on drivers' backs, revealing that medical scans have already shown damage to his spine.
"I've experienced vertical impacts of over 9G on my spine, and trust me, that is far from pleasant," Verstappen said. "The older you get, the more you think about these things. With modern ground-effect cars, the downforce is huge, and under heavy braking the car slams into the track much harder. The ground underneath is constantly moving, and if you step just slightly off-line, you never know what you're going to hit. Looking at my scans, my lower spine isn't looking good at all. It's obviously part of the sport, but the cumulative damage from recent cars is piling up, and we shouldn't accept this as normal."
Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto echoed the Dutchman's concerns, underlining the physical risks posed by the track surface:
"The physical impact is extremely severe. By Formula 1 standards, it's unacceptable. The track layout is incredible and I love driving here, but the bumps make it dangerous. The promoters need to resurface larger sections of the circuit, not just the straights."
Charles Leclerc was equally critical of the asphalt, describing it as "extremely poor, especially through the first sector."
Franco Colapinto pointed out that the track takes a heavy toll even on the younger generation of drivers:
"It's one of the greatest circuits in the world because of its high-speed corners, but it's a shame that the surface is so bumpy and puts such a strain on our bodies. Our backs really suffer. I'm young and already feeling it, so I can only imagine what it's like for the more experienced drivers. Hopefully conditions will improve in the future. The new asphalt between Turns 9 and 11 definitely felt much smoother compared to last year."
Offering a different perspective, Alpine's Steve Nielsen suggested the bumps are simply part of the venue's inherent character:
"Austin has always been bumpy. It's no secret that the subsoil here is constantly shifting and settling. The organisers make an effort and resurface sections, but the ground moves again. It's an ongoing battle—the track was bumpy in the past, it's bumpy today, and it's unlikely that will ever change."
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