Verstappen fires back at COTA boss: ‘He wouldn’t be able to walk’

Max Verstappen has delivered a blunt response to Circuit of the Americas chairman Bobby Epstein’s defence of the venue’s track surface, suggesting the circuit boss would struggle to endure even a handful of laps behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car.

The Red Bull driver has emerged as one of the loudest critics of the bumps that have plagued the Austin circuit for many years.

And with several of his concerns apparently dismissed by Epstein, Verstappen has made it clear that a few cosmetic repairs will not address what he considers a fundamental problem with the track.

"I invite him to drive my car", Verstappen said. "I think he'd have to get out after five laps and wouldn't be able to walk anymore."

It was a pointed riposte to Epstein’s suggestion that the Dutchman’s assessment of the circuit’s condition is overly harsh once.

Bumps remain a serious concern

The track surface has become a major talking point in Austin, with drivers raising their concerns during Friday’s briefing. Verstappen stayed behind afterwards to discuss the matter further with representatives of the FIA and the circuit.

The problem is rooted in the ground beneath the asphalt. COTA was built on Texas clay that expands and contracts significantly with changes in moisture, creating persistent movement beneath the surface.

Despite a complete resurfacing two years ago and further interventions ahead of this year’s race, the bumps remain a source of frustration.

"There are a few corners here that are simply really unacceptable,” Verstappen stated.

While the braking zone at Turn 1 and the approach to Turn 19 have attracted particular criticism, Verstappen insists the trouble extends into the circuit’s high-speed Esses, where uneven surfaces can unsettle a car at precisely the wrong moment.

"Turns 1 and 19 are indeed really bad, but also that whole fast section between Turns 4 and 5, there are such big bumps there... Of course I understand that the ground here is a problem, but that's something you should have looked at beforehand. That really shouldn't be an excuse,” he added.

The concern is not merely about comfort. Several drivers have come close to losing control through the fast sequence during practice, raising questions about the consequences should a car become unsettled at speed.

"Yes, those are things that really shouldn't happen at such high speeds, when the car bottoms out like that", Verstappen said.

The physical toll has also been considerable. Verstappen revealed that he has been taking painkillers daily during the Austin weekend, while McLaren’s Lando Norris has reportedly needed headache tablets for each session.

Verstappen demands more than a quick fix

Epstein pushed back against Verstappen’s initial criticism, arguing that the circuit had already addressed many of the troublesome areas and was in good condition overall.

"We don't feel good that there's a bump at the bottom of Turn 1,” he told ESPN before the action kicked off on Friday.

“We didn't know about it until this week, we would have fixed it. But the other things Max spoke about, all the bumps around the track, we've fixed them. The track is in really good shape.”

The COTA chairman also suggested that Verstappen might reconsider his position after driving on the revised surface.

"Max doesn't say I'm wrong a lot, but he's also right a lot. He's usually very frank, and I appreciate that about him. I had no problem with him saying what he said, but I think he might be surprised in some areas that bumps he thought were here aren't [there] anymore."

Read also:

• Norris joins Verstappen in blasting COTA bumps: ‘It’s pretty bad’

Unfortunately, Verstappen’s response made clear that the hoped-for change of heart has not materialised. In his view, repeatedly laying fresh asphalt over an unstable foundation is an expensive exercise in postponing the inevitable.

"You can put down a new layer of asphalt again, but a year or two later you'll have the same problem, so you need to look deeper,” the Dutchman argued.

"I think the FIA and Formula 1 should also be stricter about that. I understand that it all costs a lot of money, but this is really just putting a plaster over the problem.

“You need to dig the whole thing up and put in a proper foundation if you know the ground underneath is moving."

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