Circuit of The Americas boss Bobby Epstein has firmly insisted that there is no fundamental problem with the track surface at the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix venue, despite facing heavy complaints from Red Bull star Max Verstappen. The ongoing debate regarding the asphalt condition reignited after the reigning world champion voiced strong criticism regarding the severe bumps impacting his physical well-being over the race weekend.
The Dutchman previously joked after winning in Singapore that he would require a brand-new spine following the US GP weekend, fueled by unfavorable feedback from FIA WEC drivers regarding the circuit's asphalt. Matters escalated when he revealed to ViaPlay following Saturday's qualifying session that he was compelled to rely on painkillers to manage persistent back pain triggered by the harsh impacts across the circuit.
Addressing these grievances in an interview with ESPN, Bobby Epstein acknowledged a localized dip in the surface emerging at Turn 1—an issue the circuit management could not immediately resolve. However, he strongly rejected Max Verstappen's broader criticisms directed at the racetrack as a whole, defending the extensive resurfacing efforts undertaken by the venue.
"We don’t feel good that there’s a bump at the bottom of Turn 1," Bobby Epstein stated, as reported by Crash.net. "We didn’t know about it until this week. We would have fixed it. But the other things Max spoke about, all the bumps around the track, we’ve fixed them. The track is in really good shape. I talked to some WEC drivers who said there’s no problem.">
Providing deeper technical context, Epstein elaborated on the precise nature of the Turn 1 anomaly, differentiating between standard surface ripples and a structural dip. "There’s one bump at the beginning of [Turn] 1 that is not acceptable in my mind; it’s a dip, not a bump. If it were a bump, we’d sharpen it out; we’d take care of it tomorrow night, or overnight tonight, and that kind of stuff’s happened before. But when it’s a dip, it’s a lot different; there’s no easy fix," he explained.
Despite the sharp exchange of words, Epstein maintained an appreciative stance toward the outspoken nature of the Red Bull driver. "Max doesn’t say I’m wrong a lot, but he’s also right a lot, and he’s usually very frank, and I appreciate that about him. I had no problem with him saying what he said. I think he might be surprised in some areas that bumps he thought were here aren’t any more," Epstein added.
Nevertheless, the specific problem at Turn 1 continues to generate substantial apprehension ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix, particularly concerning heavy braking zones and wheel-to-wheel battles. McLaren driver Oscar Piastri did not hold back in his assessment, comparing the severity of the bump to an off-road obstacle.
"In qualifying it’s not too bad because you brake after the bump," Oscar Piastri noted regarding the tricky approach. "But in the race tomorrow, you’re braking right on that bump, especially if you are overtaking someone into Turn 1." Engineers and drivers alike now face a crucial strategic test in managing car setup compromises to survive the physical and mechanical demands of the circuit.
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