"Unacceptable": FIA announces significant US GP track changes after Verstappen complaints

After a record 207 track limit contraventions in practice yesterday, the FIA has signalled a relaxation in some of the corresponding rules.

Drivers were regularly finding themselves off-track, a situation only worsened by the increased number of bumps at Austin this year.

Lando Norris alone had 18 lap deletions due to going off-track, with the governing body now moving to address the situation.

Alterations being made to Circuit of the Americas after track limits issues and F1 driver gripes

In his notes, FIA race director Rui Marques has now announced that the white lines have been widened at Turns 12, 15 and 20, with the blue line which signals that the car has gone off track moved too - giving drivers a little more room for maneuver.

In addition to this, track officials have sought to address the problems caused by numerous bumps at the Circuit of the Americas, a result of the track being built on a floodplain.

The surface regularly shifts, causing the bumps to appear.

After yesterday’s practice session, the asphalt grinder was sent to Turn 19, in a bit to make it a bit of a smoother rider for the F1 grid.

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"From what I saw in the WEC [World Endurance Championship], the circuit was extremely bumpy," Verstappen grumbled prior to practice.

"I'm not really looking forward to that to be honest, for your spine. I was joking about that in the last race but it's not really a joke to be honest because we mentioned this already for years that it's actually getting a bit out of control.”

Verstappen was in no mood to give concessions to circuit designers or the FIA in relation to its geographical location.

"Of course, you can use the excuse that the soil is the problem, but then you should have known that you need to make sure that you reinforce it more," he said.

"I love this track. I love this place. It's one of the best layouts ever and it's one of the venues, best cities to be at. But for me, the bumps that we have are unacceptable.

"Over time, they've been grinding a little bit here and there, but it's just putting a plaster on the big problem - that's just what's coming underneath.