Russell says F1 may need to rethink its low, stiff cars after COTA bumps

George Russell says Formula 1 may need to rethink how its cars are run in response to the bumps at the Circuit of the Americas. After Saturday qualifying for the United States Grand Prix, the Mercedes driver described the surface as very poor and said running cars so low and stiff makes rough circuits a challenge. He suggested F1 might allow teams to operate the cars in a more sensible range.

On Thursday, Russell had called for F1 circuits to be resurfaced every couple of years. He also pointed out that cars run just 10mm from the ground at the end of a straight.

Max Verstappen had raised the COTA bumps on Thursday, describing them as unacceptable and out of control; Russell backed him. After qualifying, Oscar Piastri compared the Turn 1 dip to a motocross jump. COTA chairman Bobby Epstein said the dip was unacceptable to him but told ESPN there was no easy fix.