FIA Relaxes Track Limits and Addresses Bumps at US Grand Prix

The FIA has stepped in to overhaul track limit enforcement and surface conditions at the Circuit of the Americas after a Friday free practice session marred by 207 lap deletions. Race Director Rui Marques has announced immediate adjustments to the track boundaries to avoid a qualifying session dominated by steward interventions rather than pure driver pace.

Why it matters:

Consistent track limits are critical for qualifying accuracy. In Austin, the current layout—specifically Turn 20—creates a "double penalty" where a single infringement deletes both the current and subsequent laps. Combined with surface bumps that drivers have labeled "below F1 standards," the FIA faced significant pressure to ensure the venue is safe and competitive for Saturday's shootout.

The Details:

• Line Adjustments: White lines have been widened and blue boundary lines moved at Turns 12, 15, and 20 to provide drivers with more leeway.
• Surface Remediation: Asphalt grinding was performed at the fast left-hander of Turn 19 to mitigate severe bumps that hindered car stability.
• Driver Feedback: Audi's Gabriel Bortoleto criticized the circuit's condition, stating the current state is "very harsh" and potentially dangerous, arguing that previous resurfacing efforts focused on irrelevant straight-line sections.
• The Albon Struggle: Williams' Alex Albon was the hardest hit on Friday, suffering the highest number of deletions while battling a difficult-to-handle FW48.

What's next:

All eyes turn to Saturday's qualifying to see if these rapid interventions resolve the volatility. If deletions remain high, the FIA may face further criticism regarding the venue's readiness, especially given the ongoing concerns over driver physical strain caused by the track's lack of smoothness.