Piastri likens COTA's Turn 1 bump to a motocross jump after qualifying seventh

Oscar Piastri qualified seventh for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas on Saturday, finishing 0.768 seconds behind championship leader and polesitter Kimi Antonelli, and raised fresh concerns about the track’s surface ahead of Sunday’s race.

The McLaren driver described the bump on the approach to Turn 1 as resembling “a motocross jump”, singling it out — along with the braking zone into Turn 19 — as a persistent problem despite broader improvements to the Austin circuit’s surface. “The majority of the track is probably better than what it has been in previous years,” Piastri said. “But the bump into Turn 1 is a bit like a motocross jump. And the one into Turn 19 is not that much better.”

Piastri cautioned that the issue would be more consequential in the race than it was during qualifying. “In qualifying it’s not too bad because you brake after the bump. But in the race tomorrow, you’re braking right on that bump — especially if you’re overtaking someone into Turn 1.”

The track surface has been a central topic throughout the weekend. Four-time champion Max Verstappen described the bumps as “unacceptable” earlier in the event. Piastri confirmed the drivers had escalated the matter to the sport’s governing body. “We’ve spoken with the FIA about it. They’re aware. And I’m sure it’ll be fixed for next year,” he said.

Piastri’s team-mate Lando Norris ended qualifying in eighth after having his final Q3 lap time deleted for a track limits infringement, leaving McLaren without either car in the top six heading into the grand prix.

The 25-year-old was also asked about the new structure overlooking Turn 1, which includes cable cars transporting spectators and was introduced for the 2026 race. Piastri said it had not disrupted his reference points on track. “The first time I was like, OK, that’s pretty close. But after that, I think it adds to the atmosphere in some ways. So, it’s not changed much,” he said.