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Max Verstappen Says US GP Circuit Left Him Needing a New Spine
Highlights
- Max Verstappen calls Circuit of the Americas “incredibly bumpy”
- Verstappen jokes about needing a “new spine” after US Grand Prix
- He won Bahrain, Malaysia, and Singapore Grands Prix consecutively
- Verstappen is fourth in standings, trailing Hamilton by eight points
- US Grand Prix surface poses physical challenges for all drivers
- Next race is high-altitude Mexican Grand Prix with hot conditions
Max Verstappen warns the Circuit of the Americas will be “incredibly bumpy” as Formula 1 arrives in Austin, joking he might need a “new spine” after the United States Grand Prix.
The Red Bull driver enters on a three-race winning streak across Bahrain, Malaysia, and Singapore, yet he downplays predictions given COTA’s distinct demands.
“I take it race by race,” he says, underlining how the layout, kerbs, and surface make performance swings more likely than recent form suggests.
Verstappen cites the World Endurance Championship’s recent Austin visit, noting the bumps expose both drivers and cars to sustained physical and mechanical stress.
“From what I saw in WEC, the track is incredibly bumpy.”
Ride-height sensitivity will be central. Teams must soften mechanical platforms for compliance while protecting plank wear and staying within FIA skid block tolerances.
Red Bull usually excels over bumps through rear stability and traction, but compromise is inevitable. Rivals can close in if they sustain aero platform control across COTA’s abrasive kerbs.
Verstappen sits fourth in the standings with six rounds left. He has scored 58 points across the last two weekends, including sprints, trailing Lewis Hamilton by eight and George Russell by 17.
He trails Hamilton by eight points with six rounds remaining, keeping the title fight alive.
Execution will decide the weekend, from qualifying rhythm to stint-length tyre control. Timings and format are detailed in the updated US GP schedule, which shapes teams’ run plans.
Attention already shifts to Mexico City’s altitude. Cooling margins, turbo speed limits, and energy recovery efficiency will reshape car behaviour in hot, thin air.
Those conditions emphasise power-unit management, alongside the broader framework Verstappen discussed around the 2026 F1 rules, which continue to influence development priorities.
Red Bull’s build-up focuses on ride compliance without sacrificing high-speed balance. The team’s approach across practice and race trim features in our United States GP coverage.
Recent transformations within Red Bull’s package remain relevant, though Austin will test durability, spares usage, and cost-cap planning as much as outright pace.
Verstappen jokes he might need a “new spine” to handle COTA’s punishment.
Visual Summary
🦴🦴🦴
MAX’S SPINE
“Might need a new spine!”
2️⃣
Russell
+17
4️⃣
Verstappen
🧗♂️
+8
3️⃣
Hamilton
—
58
points in
last 2 weekends
last 2 weekends
6
rounds to go
USA
→
Mexico
→
Mexico
#4
in standings
💥
COTA: F1’s Ultimate Bone-Shaker
💥
COTA: F1’s Ultimate Bone-Shaker
💥
Verstappen
faces a track so rough, even the World Endurance Championship winced.
His back may take a beating—but his title hope goes on.
faces a track so rough, even the World Endurance Championship winced.
His back may take a beating—but his title hope goes on.
Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.
