“Not okay”: FIA makes big changes to US GP track after Verstappen’s concerns
After a record 207 track limit violations during practice yesterday, the FIA has decided to ease up on some of the related rules. Drivers were often going off the track, which was made worse by more bumps at Austin this year.
Lando Norris alone lost 18 laps because he went off track, so the FIA is now taking steps to help. FIA race director Rui Marques shared that the white lines have been widened at Turns 12, 15, and 20. They also moved the blue line, which shows when a car is off track, to give drivers a bit more space to drive.
Track officials are also working to fix the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas, which happen because the track is built on a floodplain. The ground moves often, causing these bumps to form. After yesterday’s practice, they sent out a machine to smooth out the surface at Turn 19, hoping to make the ride easier for the drivers.
Before practice, Max Verstappen complained about the bumps, saying, “From what I saw in the World Endurance Championship, the track is really bumpy. It’s not great for your spine. I joked about it last race, but it’s serious because this has been a problem for years, and it’s getting worse.”
He wasn’t willing to excuse the bumps because of the track’s location. “Sure, you can say the soil is the issue, but you should have reinforced it better,” he said. “I love this track and the city, it’s one of the best places to race. But the bumps are unacceptable. They’ve been trying to fix it here and there, but that’s just a quick fix. The real problem is what’s going on beneath the surface.”