Max Verstappen expects a physically punishing weekend at the Circuit of The Americas despite arriving in Austin on the back of an impressive run of results.
The Red Bull driver has secured five successive podium finishes, including victories in Bahrain and Singapore, as the RB22 has become increasingly competitive and more manageable behind the wheel. The turnaround has lifted his spirits following a challenging opening to the 2026 campaign.
However, Verstappen is wary of expecting another triumph at every venue, particularly with the 5.5-kilometre Texas circuit presenting a unique set of challenges.
COTA is notorious for its bumpy surface, which can compromise car stability through fast corners and place considerable strain on drivers. Verstappen has jokingly likened the experience to riding in a rodeo, suggesting he could emerge from the weekend needing a new spine.
Organisers have introduced several changes ahead of this year’s race, resurfacing the section between Turns 9 and 11 while smoothing bumps on the approaches to Turns 12 and 19.
Nevertheless, Verstappen remains unconvinced that the alterations will significantly ease the circuit’s demands. He watched last month’s World Endurance Championship event at COTA to assess the conditions, but what he observed did little to reassure him.
“I mean, it’s very difficult to say and I don’t want to say now that I will be in the fight in Austin,” he said. “But yeah, the last few weekends have been great.
“But I just take it race by race, and once we are in Austin, then we’ll see how it will go there. It’s again a very different track.
“From what I saw in WEC, the track is incredibly bumpy. I’ll probably need to order a new spine, I think, after the weekend. Yeah, I’ll become like Robocop. Yeah, crazy.
“That’s again a new challenge for everyone, to deal with those bumps.”
