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Verstappen: Bumpy Austin asphalt "not at F1 level"
Complaints about the surface quality at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) have been ongoing from both F1 drivers and MotoGP riders. COTA has attempted to address the issue by repaving certain areas in 2022 and carrying out further resurfacing for this weekend’s race. Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, however, believes that the track surface still needs a major overhaul, as it feels more suitable for a rally car and the bumps and jumps are too severe. The bumps at COTA have become a concern for F1 since the introduction of low-ride height ground-effect cars in 2022, with Fernando Alonso crashing and retiring due to damage caused by the rough surface. Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc were also disqualified for excessive wear on their car’s floor plank, which is believed to be a result of the rough surface. Hamilton stated that while he appreciates some bumps for adding character to a circuit, there are too many at COTA, and improvements could be made in certain areas without incurring excessive costs.
Source: motorsport
