Sports · Motorsport · 3 hrs ago
Russell urges F1 to rethink low, stiff car setups after COTA bumps
Mercedes driver George Russell wants F1 to reconsider its car setups after complaints about bumps at the Circuit of the Americas in Texas.
Russell said the cars are forced to run very low and stiff, and that this may be part of the problem.
Max Verstappen had called the track’s bumps unacceptable, while McLaren driver Oscar Piastri compared one to a motocross jump.
The circuit’s chairman said the dip at Turn 1 was not acceptable but that there was no easy fix.
Russell qualified sixth, after mistakes in his final qualifying laps, while his Mercedes team-mate Kimi Antonelli took pole.
Antonelli could clinch the championship on Sunday if he wins, Russell finishes ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton finishes fifth or lower.
Russell has also called for circuits to be resurfaced every couple of years, but no specific next step on the track surface was given.
George Russell urged Formula 1 to reconsider how low and stiff its cars are run after drivers criticised bumps at the Circuit of the Americas.
Russell said the cars’ setup could be part of the problem and suggested allowing teams to run them in a more sensible range.
The Mercedes driver will start the United States Grand Prix sixth after qualifying, while team-mate Kimi Antonelli took pole.
Max Verstappen had called the COTA bumps “unacceptable” and “out of control”, and Oscar Piastri compared one to “a motocross jump”.
COTA chairman Bobby Epstein said the dip at Turn 1 was not acceptable but that there was no easy fix.
- Who
- George Russell, a Mercedes Formula 1 driver.
- What
- He urged F1 to reconsider how low and stiff cars are run after criticism of COTA’s bumps.
- When
- Ahead of the United States Grand Prix; Russell made the comments after qualifying.
- Where
- The Circuit of the Americas in the United States.
- Why
- Russell said running cars low and stiff makes bumpy tracks challenging and may contribute to the problem.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Max Verstappen raised concerns about the bumps ahead of the race weekend.
Russell called for F1 circuits to be resurfaced every couple of years.
Russell qualified sixth, while Kimi Antonelli took pole.
Russell said F1 should consider allowing cars to run in a more sensible range.
- Russell’s qualifying position
- Sixth
- Antonelli’s qualifying position
- Pole
- Russell’s Q3 deficit to Antonelli
- 0.441 seconds
- Russell’s suggested resurfacing frequency
- Every couple of years
- Car ground clearance cited by Russell
- 10mm at the end of the straight
What people are saying
It’s always a challenge when you’re forced to run the car so low and so stiff.
unacceptable
a motocross jump
no easy fix