Max Verstappen has described the bumps at the Circuit of The Americas as "unacceptable" and "out of control", and Lando Norris agrees. Norris says he takes headache tablets as a precaution before sessions on circuits like this, explaining that the surface is so rough he hits his head hard against the headrest.
Norris noted that modern track-building tolerances are tight, but COTA is an older circuit and does not meet those standards. "So, yeah, it's pretty bad," he said. "There's a lot of places I need to take headache tablets before I go out simply because it's so bumpy." He added that drivers have complained about the problem many times, and that while there is little more they can do, Verstappen is right.
To gain FIA Grade 1 status, a track must meet strict layout and safety requirements, and its surface is checked with a four-metre straight edge, with a tolerance of plus or minus 3mm. COTA was last resurfaced in 2024, but the heavy clay-based soil in the area shrinks and expands with the seasons, so parts of the track have been partially resurfaced or ground down.
Drivers grew especially vocal during the 2022-2025 ground-effect era, when cars ran low and stiffly suspended. The move from 13-inch to 18-inch wheels also reduced the cushioning effect of the tyres. George Russell said F1 tracks probably need repaving every couple of years, noting that the cars' ride height of about 10mm leaves them feeling every bump. He added that the smaller tyre sidewall has removed much of the suspension effect the tyres once provided.
Source: Autosport F1 News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing