Circuit of the Americas boss Bobby Epstein has officially addressed and rejected criticism regarding the asphalt conditions raised by Red Bull star Max Verstappen ahead of the race weekend. While the reigning world champion voiced severe complaints about bumps causing physical discomfort and back pain, circuit management insists that the vast majority of surface imperfections around the layout have already been successfully repaired.
The controversy intensified after the Dutch driver humorously remarked that he would need medical spine attention following his running sessions in Austin, later admitting to media outlets that he has had to rely on painkiller medications to manage intense back strain. He pointed out specific sections near the opening and closing corners where he is forced to lift his body out of the racing seat to mitigate the punishing vertical loads.
In response, Epstein clarified that the circuit administration was only alerted to a specific dip located at Turn 1 during the race week itself. While acknowledging that this particular contour issue is far from ideal and difficult to fix overnight compared to standard surface bumps, he maintained that all other previously reported irregularities across the circuit have been thoroughly smoothed out to meet high motorsport standards.
'We don’t feel good that there’s a bump at the bottom of Turn 1,' Epstein told ESPN. '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.'
Echoing the challenges presented by the asphalt layout, McLaren driver Oscar Piastri also shared his perspective on the unique characteristics of the track. The Australian driver likened the dip into the opening corner to a motocross jump, noting that heavy braking zones coinciding with surface undulations will create intense tactical dilemmas during wheel-to-wheel combat in Grand Prix proceedings.
Despite the differing viewpoints on the track's physical traits, Epstein expressed genuine respect for the driver's transparent feedback, noting that constructive honesty is a valuable trait that helps prompt continuous improvements in modern motorsport infrastructure.
Read Also
Simak analisis lengkap ketegangan internal Ferrari di GP Amerika Serikat 2026, batasan Leclerc dan Hamilton, serta persiapan jelang balapan. Baca selengkapnya!
Simak kisah hangat Lewis Hamilton yang membelikan anak Kim Kardashian anak anjing golden retriever. Baca berita eksklusif F1 terbaru di sini!
Simak analisis lengkap kritikan tajam terhadap Jeremy Clarkson usai melontarkan candaan kontroversial pada Franco Colapinto. Baca beritanya di sini!
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!