The FIA has implemented immediate track limit adjustments at the Circuit of The Americas following a significant number of lap time deletions during Friday’s free practice sessions for the 2026 United States Grand Prix. A total of 207 lap times were invalidated across both Free Practice 1 and Free Practice 2 on October 23.
FIA Race Director Rui Marques issued updated notes for Saturday’s running, confirming that track limits have been relaxed at several corners. This includes the widening of white lines at Turns 12, 15, and 20.
The blue line, which designates the absolute track limit, has also been repositioned at these corners to accommodate the changes. Turns 6, 12, 15, 19, and 20 were identified as the primary locations for infringements on Friday.
Williams driver Alex Albon recorded the highest number of deleted laps, with 21 infringements across the two practice sessions. McLaren’s Lando Norris followed with 18, while Isack Hadjar and Charles Leclerc each had 14.
Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, who himself accumulated four track limit violations at the recent Singapore Grand Prix, attributed the issues to the COTA layout. He noted the circuit’s elevation changes and unpredictable wind conditions contribute to drivers exceeding boundaries.
Beyond track limits, the circuit’s persistent bumpiness remains a significant concern for drivers. Asphalt grinding has been carried out at the fast left-hander of Turn 19 to address particularly prevalent bumps.
Red Bull’s Max Verstappen has been vocal about the track surface, labelling the bumps as “unacceptable” and “out of control.” He revealed undergoing spinal scans due to the impacts experienced.
Max Verstappen on COTA bumps: “I can tell you from the checks that I’ve done from my spine, the bottom end doesn’t look that great.”
Verstappen suggested that the 2026 Formula 1 cars, with their low ride heights in corners, may exacerbate the issue of bottoming out. He stated that the problem is often worse under braking or in corners, rather than on straights.
Audi driver Gabriel Bortoleto echoed these sentiments, stating that the circuit’s condition is not up to F1 standards. The Circuit of The Americas is built on a high-plasticity clay base, which causes the track surface to shift and ripple with changes in weather.
COTA owner Bobby Epstein acknowledged a specific bump at the bottom of Turn 1 as “not acceptable” and without a quick solution. However, he maintained that other areas of the track are in good condition.
Historically, COTA has undergone multiple resurfacing efforts, including sections from Turn 9 to Turn 11 ahead of this year’s event. Previous works included a large-scale repaving of Turns 2-10 and 12-16 in January 2022.
In 2019 and 2020, sections of the back straight and areas from Turn 14 to pit entry were also resurfaced. Despite these interventions, the underlying geological challenges persist.
In addition to track limit adjustments, three drivers, Arvid Lindblad, Gabriel Bortoleto, and Franco Colapinto, have incurred grid penalties for the United States Grand Prix. These penalties stem from exceeding their permitted power unit component allocations.
Bortoleto, specifically, has exceeded the allowed number of energy store and control electronics units for the season. The 2026 United States Grand Prix continues with Free Practice 3 and Qualifying on Saturday, October 24.
