Norris takes headache tablets before running on bumpy Austin circuit
Lando Norris backed Max Verstappen's criticism of the Circuit of the Americas, saying he needs headache tablets before going out because the bumps knock his head against the headrest. George Russell said the surface needs repaving every couple of years.
Verstappen has company
Max Verstappen's description of Austin's bumps as "unacceptable" and "out of control" did not stay a solo complaint for long. On Thursday McLaren's Lando Norris told reporters, including those from Autosport and RacingNews365, that the Circuit of the Americas is every bit as rough as the Red Bull driver said.
Asked about Verstappen's comments, Norris answered that he agreed. He said there are places on the circuit where he has to take headache tablets before going out, simply because it is so bumpy and "you're hitting your head pretty hard against the headrests". Neither report names the tablets or gives any further medical detail. Norris added that there is not much the drivers can do about it, but that Verstappen "is certainly right".
A question of tolerances
Norris also questioned how the surface can be so uneven. If a new track were built today, he said, the tolerances required by the FIA are pretty small. Autosport explains the background: to hold Grade 1 status, a surface is checked with a four-metre straight edge and must stay within plus or minus 3mm, and a Grade 1 licence lasts three years after homologation.
The Austin track was last resurfaced in 2024, Autosport notes, but it is built on heavy clay-based soil that shrinks and expands with the seasons, so parts have since been partly resurfaced or ground down. RacingNews365 adds that the circuit was built for 2012 on former marshland near Austin-Bergstrom airport.
The cars play their part
George Russell, quoted by Autosport, said Formula 1 tracks probably need to be repaved every couple of years. He pointed out that the cars' ride height is about 10mm at the end of the straight, so any small bump is felt. Autosport reports that drivers complained most during the 2022 to 2025 ground-effect era, when cars ran low and stiff, and that the move from 13-inch to 18-inch wheels removed some tyre cushioning. The 2026 rules were meant to reduce the reliance on low ride heights, but as performance converged, ride heights have dropped again.
What it means
No fix or action has been announced, and Norris said there is only so much drivers can complain about. The practical consequence is for the weekend itself. Norris comes to Austin fifth in the standings with 188 points, level with Verstappen, and has won two of the 17 races so far. The United States Grand Prix starts on Sunday 25 October at 20:00 UTC.
