Austin asphalt compared to a rally stage by drivers

Has the time for a facelift come for the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (Texas)? The 2023 United States Grand Prix has in any case provoked strong criticism from several drivers regarding the quality of the asphalt.

Winner of both the Sprint Race and the Grand Prix, Max Verstappen (Red Bull) compared the state of the Texan tarmac to a special stage of rally, oh my ! “We need to resurface the track because at the moment it feels like it is better suited to a rally car. I jump and bounce.

In a car F1, you probably don't see it as much because you're stuck to the ground because of the aerodynamic downforce. But the bumps and jumps we have in some places are way too big. I don't think it's at F1 level. »

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Such criticisms are not unprecedented. Inaugurated in 2012, the COTA has regularly been singled out for its bumpy surface, particularly in the braking sections. Built on unstable clay soil, the asphalt “patches” patched up on the track only provide satisfaction for a few years, before the bumps reform.

However, future work should not distort the rough side of this Austin route, 5,513 km long. This is what explained Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). " I like some bumps because they give character to a circuit, but there are way too many of them. As drivers and members of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GDPA), we are ready to discuss with those responsible for the circuit and to help them, for example by avoiding developing the entire circuit, which would cost a fortune. »