George Russell advocates for modifications to the F1 circuit following Max Verstappen's criticisms of COTA.
George Russell asserts that Formula 1 tracks ought to be repaved every few years, following Max Verstappen's pointed remarks about the uneven surface at the Circuit of the Americas, suggesting it could leave him in need of “a new spine.”
COTA has long been recognized as one of the more uneven tracks on the F1 calendar. However, the Dutch driver expressed concern after witnessing the challenges faced by cars and drivers during the World Endurance Championship event held at the venue.
“But it’s a completely different track,” he remarked. “From what I observed in WEC, the surface is extremely bumpy. Oh my goodness, I might need to order a new spine after the weekend or transform into Robocop. Unbelievable.”
When questioned about the situation during his media briefing on Thursday in Austin, the Mercedes driver acknowledged the bumpy nature of the track but stated that this issue extends beyond just COTA. Aging asphalt has impacted multiple circuits throughout the 24-race schedule.
“Yes, it’s bumpy, but I believe it’s simply part of racing,” he commented. “In my opinion, F1 circuits probably require repaving every few years to maintain consistency, as we are currently racing on tracks where the tarmac is breaking apart, leading to more problems than solutions.
"We’re not like Indy cars or F2 cars that operate at relatively high ride heights; our ride height is just 10mm at the end of the straight, a mere centimeter from the ground, so any slight bump is very noticeable.”
George Russell, Mercedes
During the Monaco Grand Prix, both Lance Stroll and Charles Leclerc encountered crashes at Turn 19, prompting a red flag while the FIA examined the track surface. Both drivers attributed their incidents to car issues, but many connected the crashes to the deteriorated asphalt.
“The side profile of the tyres has significantly decreased since we switched to the 18-inch sizes,” Russell explained. “The overall circumference of the tyre remains the same, but the rim's circumference is much larger, which means we’ve lost much of the effective suspension that the tyre provided, acting as a damper, which we no longer have. So, it’s not optimal, but there’s little we can do about it.”
Russell heads into Austin ranked second in the drivers’ championship, trailing Mercedes teammate Kimi Antonelli by 102 points, who has the opportunity to clinch the drivers' championship this Sunday. Both Mercedes drivers will utilize the team’s latest upgrade package this weekend, with Russell indicating that the new components require “a more significant set-up adjustment than we initially expected.”
More from this section
Max Verstappen criticizes “unacceptable” bumps at the Austin F1 circuit: “It's beyond control.”
Lando Norris discusses the Coca-Cola incident in Madrid: “I have the freedom to choose my drinks.”
Lando Norris supports Max Verstappen regarding the COTA bumps and discloses his use of headache tablets.
Kimi Antonelli set to "complete the task" as his inaugural F1 championship opportunity approaches at the US GP.
Oscar Piastri claims that Red Bull has become F1's “most reliably fast car.”
