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Laurence Edmondson, F1 Editor
AUSTIN, Texas — The bumpy track surface at the Circuit of the Americas is not up to Formula One standard, according to Sunday’s U.S. Grand Prix race winner Max Verstappen.
The aging asphalt of the 3.4-mile circuit has developed multiple bumps in recent years, which were cited as a contributing factor by Mercedes and Ferrari for the disqualifications of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc in Sunday’s race.
Verstappen believes the asphalt needs to be re-laid before next year’s race.
“It needs to be redone because at the moment it feels like it’s better suited to a rally car,” he said. “Like I’m jumping and bouncing around.
“In an F1 car probably you don’t even see it as much because of course we are glued to the ground because of the downforce but the bumps and jumps that we have in some places, this is way too much.
“I don’t think it’s F1 level.
“I love this track. Honestly, the layout is amazing but we definitely need new tarmac and it needs to be a lot smoother for the coming years because we already asking for this for I think quite a few years, and it’s not really been done.”
Seven-time world champion Hamilton, who was disqualified for excessive wear to the resin plank on the underside of his Mercedes car, said the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA) would be happy to advise the circuit on improvements.
“I agree with Max, it’s bumpy,” Hamilton said. “I like some of some of the bumps because it adds character to a circuit, but there’s way too many.
“As drivers in the GPDA we are open to discussing with them and helping them, like maybe not doing the whole thing so it costs a fortune. From the last corner to the start line, for example, that’s smooth but then the rest of it might not be.
“The pit lane is smooth but there are other areas that for sure they could patch up and improve.”
McLaren driver Lando Norris, who finished second in Sunday’s race once Hamilton was removed from the results, also called for a more consistent surface in some of the braking zones.
“It would be helpful if they didn’t put tarmac in a braking zone as well. They’ve resurfaced some places and they start the tarmac at the 100-metre board into Turn 12, which is where we brake.
“So just little things they could do. From what I heard they’re resurfacing the first sector or something next year, so we’ll hope it’s a little bit better.”