Verstappen and Norris say Austin’s bumpy track is harming their spines
Both drivers described the Circuit of the Americas surface as “unacceptable” and warned that modern F1 cars may be worsening back injuries.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Max Verstappen and Lando Norris said the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin are damaging their spines, calling the surface “unacceptable” as the United States Grand Prix weekend began.
What happened
The Formula 1 weekend in Austin started on 23 October 2026 with the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas. Both Verstappen and Norris spoke to the press about the track’s condition, describing the bumps as “unacceptable” and noting that examinations of their spines show deterioration linked to the car’s forces.
What the reports add
Both Independent articles report the same comments, but the first article adds that Verstappen said fixing the bumps would require “fully opening up the track”, which would be costly and time‑consuming. The second article includes the by‑line “Bradley Collyer/PA (PA Wire)” for the Verstappen quote and repeats Norris’s point that the physical demands of driving an F1 car are often underestimated.
What was said
Verstappen told the Independent, “For me the bumps are unacceptable… (To fix it) means you need to really fully open up the track. That costs a lot of money and time but that’s the only way to get rid of it because these bumps are not natural and they are out of control.” He added, “I can tell you from the checks that I’ve done on my spine, the bottom end doesn’t look that great.”
Norris said, “I know that’s part of racing. I know that can be part of sport, but it’s also further damage from the cars that we had the last few years.” He also highlighted the longevity of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, who are still racing in their 40s.
How it came about
Verstappen’s concerns follow a busy month for the Dutch champion. Earlier in October he secured sprint pole in Singapore (Felo coverage) and was involved in a drivers’‑standings battle with Norris after winning the Bahrain Grand Prix (Felo coverage). Norris, meanwhile, had apologised for a collision in the Singapore sprint (Felo coverage). The back‑to‑back comments in Austin add a health‑related dimension to the on‑track rivalry.
Key facts
- Verstappen called the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas “unacceptable”. (independent.co.uk)
- Norris said his spine shows damage from racing and that the physical demands of F1 are underestimated. (independent.co.uk)
- Both drivers said fixing the bumps would require fully opening the track, a costly and time‑consuming solution. (independent.co.uk)
Timeline
- 2026-10-09 — Verstappen took Singapore sprint pole.
- 2026-10-11 — Norris apologised after a collision in the Singapore sprint.
- 2026-10-23 — Verstappen and Norris criticised the Austin track surface.
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