Lando Norris required to 'take tablets' to combat US Grand Prix health concern

Lando Norris has explained how he is required to take "headache tablets" to combat the effects of bumps at the United States Grand Prix venue, Austin.

The Circuit of the Americas was built for the 2012 race on former marshland near Austin Bergstrom International Airport, meaning the ground underneath the track is constantly being forced up and down, with the Texas climate also affecting the track surface.

It was not a concern prior to 2022, with the cars not being run as close to the ground as during the ground effects era of 2022-2025, where downforce was generated by running the car as close to the track surface as possible - thus amplifying the effect of the bumps. 

On Thursday ahead of this year's race, Max Verstappen claimed that the bumps situation was "unacceptable" and spoke of the potential for severe spinal damage, having endured peak stresses of 9G at times in the 2025 race.

And Norris believes his fellow world champion Verstappen is "certainly right" with the criticism levied at the track surface.

"I would say yes," Norris told media, including RacingNews365, when presented with Verstappen's "unacceptable" comments.

"If you build a new track now, the FIA has the rules and regulations for building a new track and the tolerances you have to be within are pretty small.

"It certainly doesn't fit anywhere close to what the regulations are now, let's say, but it is an old track, not a new track.

"It is pretty bad, and there are places where I need to take headache tablets before I go out, simply because it is so bumpy and you are hitting your head against the headrests because of the bumps.

"So it is certainly not a nice thing, but there is not a lot we can do. 

"We complain about it, and it is brought up many times, but there is only so much we can complain about things, but [Verstappen] is certainly right."