Lewis Hamilton disagrees with Max Verstappen over US GP issue as organisers issue statement
Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton may be preparing to welcome a new name to their group of F1 Drivers’ Champions when Kimi Antonelli attempts to lift the 2026 title.
However, the Italian needs things to go his way in the US Grand Prix, hoping that the Ferrari and Red Bull drivers do not deny him the chance of making Formula 1 history.
Hamilton and Verstappen, though, seem to have differing opinions regarding the state of the track in the state of Texas.
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Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen disagree over US Grand Prix issue
Verstappen is one of several drivers who have complained about the bumps on the track as they make their way around the circuit.
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They have made their concerns known in their post-qualifying and practice interviews throughout the weekend, with the Dutch driver making it clear that his body is feeling the effects.
Verstappen said: “It’s really not nice, and I think sometimes people don’t really understand that because I can tell you from the checks that I’ve done from my spine, the bottom end doesn’t look that great.”
However, one driver who offered a differing opinion was Hamilton, who seemed to be comfortable with the track.
The Ferrari driver, who will line up fifth on the grid, says he feels the bumps add character to the circuit.
Hamilton said: “It is bumpy, but I think it’s okay. I didn’t have any problems with bumps. Personally like the bumps, I think it adds character to the track.
“I love the challenge of that because you know the car is moving and you have to correct it. In a perfect world, it would be a flat track, but then there would be a lack of character. That’s what gives this track that little bit more.
“It’s already a great layout. The bumps give it a bit more. Turn 1 is not a problem for us at all. Turn 19 and Turn 9, which are a little bit bumpy, but everyone’s in the same boat.
“I don’t think this is bad. People are complaining, but I’m 42, and my back is fine.”
COTA responds to Max Verstappen’s comments
COTA boss Bobby Epstein has since responded to the comments that have been made by Verstappen and several other drivers.
The Red Bull driver joked after winning in Singapore that he would need a new spine after the US GP weekend, as feedback from FIA WEC drivers about the asphalt was not positive.
Speaking with ESPN, Epstein responded: “We don’t feel good that there’s a bump at the bottom of Turn 1. 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. I talked to some WEC drivers who said there’s no problem. There’s one bump at the beginning of [Turn] 1 that is not acceptable in my mind; it’s a dip, not a bump.
“If it were a bump, we’d sharpen it out; we’d take care of it tomorrow night, or overnight tonight, and that kind of stuff’s happened before [at other tracks].
“But when it’s a dip, it’s a lot different; there’s no easy fix. Max doesn’t say I’m wrong a lot, but he’s also right a lot, and he’s usually very frank, and I appreciate that about him.
“I had no problem with him saying what he said. I think he might be surprised in some areas that bumps he thought were here aren’t any more.”
Topics: Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Formula 1
Brendan McGilligan