Verstappen hits out at 'unacceptable' Austin bumps and reveals ongoing spine issues

Pulse Sports Team 10:30 - 23 October 2026

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen has voiced serious frustration over the condition of the track surface in Austin ahead of the United States Grand Prix. The four-time world champion labelled the bumps around the Circuit of the Americas as "unacceptable" and warned of the severe health risks they pose to drivers.

Back during the Singapore press conference, Verstappen joked that he might soon need to order a new spine after watching the World Endurance Championship (WEC) round at the Texas venue in early September. While he laughed off the situation at the time alongside Kimi Antonelli, he stressed during media duties in Austin that his concerns are very real.

"From what I saw during the WEC race, the track is extremely bumpy. To be honest, I'm really not looking forward to it because of the strain on the spine," the Dutchman explained. "I joked about it at the last race, but it's actually no laughing matter. We've been talking about this for years, and things are getting out of hand."

The underlying issue stems from the soil beneath the circuit. Built largely on clay-rich ground, the Texas track is heavily affected by weather conditions that cause continuous shifting and expansion of the soil. This creates harsh undulations, especially in heavy braking zones where the asphalt endures the greatest loads.

Ahead of the 2026 race, organisers once again resurfaced key sections, including between Turns 9 and 11, alongside grinding work to smooth out the stretch between Turns 12 and 19. This comes just two years after the entire circuit underwent a complete resurfacing before the 2024 event.

Verstappen, however, believes that the region's geological conditions shouldn't be used as an excuse by the organisers.

"It's very bad. Of course, it's easy to blame the soil, but that was known beforehand, and the foundations should have been built much stronger," Verstappen commented. "I love this track; the layout is one of the best, and Austin is a great city. But these bumps are unacceptable. Up until now, they've only been smoothing over isolated patches, but that's just putting a plaster over a deep-rooted issue in the foundations."

In his view, the only permanent solution is a complete overhaul: "That means tearing up the entire track. It takes a lot of time and money, but it's the only way forward. These bumps aren't natural, and things have gotten out of control."

Despite the shift in car concept and moving away from the previous ultra-stiff ground-effect setups, the Dutchman expressed concern that the characteristics of the 2026 cars could cause even greater discomfort for drivers.

"It could actually be worse because the ride height is so low through the corners. On the straights we run the active mode and the car comes up, but in the braking zones the floor bottoms out even more than before. And most of the bumps are right in the braking areas or inside the corners," Verstappen explained.

The driver also highlighted specific figures regarding the physical toll experienced at the Circuit of the Americas: "Last year, for instance, you'd pull 5 to 6G lateral load through the corners, but the vertical impacts on the spine peaked at over 9G. I can assure you that's not pleasant at all, and as you get older, you start thinking much more about the long-term impact."

Verstappen admitted that after more than 11 seasons in Formula 1, the physical toll is evident: "Sometimes people don't realise what our bodies go through. From scans and checks I've had done, I can see my lower spine isn't in the best shape anymore. I know it's part of the sport and the risks that come with the job, but the cars in recent years have done additional damage."

"If we keep accepting these conditions as normal, the consequences down the line will be much worse for all of us," he warned.

"Some will say there are sports with far greater risk of bodily harm. That's undoubtedly true, but that's exactly why I don't do those sports. So it's definitely far from ideal."

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