A ‘new spine’ might not be necessary for Verstappen at the Circuit of the Americas

Verstappen had little confidence beforehand that he would enjoy a comfortable ride around the American circuit.

Speaking after the Singapore Grand Prix, Verstappen explained that he doesn't expect the US Grand Prix to be a comfortable one. "From what I saw in WEC, the track is incredibly bumpy. Oh my god, I probably need to order a new spine after the weekend or become like Robocop. Crazy," the Dutchman joked.

Ahead of Formula 1’s visit, COTA carried out work in several parts of the track. The section from the entry to Turn 9 through to the entry to Turn 11 has been resurfaced. In addition, the bumps ahead of Turns 12 and 19 have been smoothed out. Movement in the ground beneath the circuit means the track regularly needs to be resurfaced. This weekend’s work should give drivers a less bumpy ride in a number of places.

Not all the challenges have been eliminated, however. Pirelli expects the ageing of the remaining sections of asphalt to continue playing an important role. Although the track surface is not particularly abrasive, it puts the tyres under considerable strain. According to the tyre supplier, wear in particular could prove decisive, more so than graining. The latter occurs when small rubber particles form on the tread, reducing grip.

Changes have also been made to the track limits. New blue lines have been added at most corners, particularly in areas where drivers have regularly had their lap times deleted in previous years. The markings are intended to help reduce the number of violations.

Alongside the circuit changes, the teams face a strategic decision. Williams, for example, expects Austin to be the circuit where overtaking will be easiest this season. The team’s calculations suggest that race pace will therefore count for around 30 per cent more than qualifying pace.

The British team anticipates a tricky choice between a one-stop and a two-stop strategy. The softer tyres appear to be an attractive option. Since the soft compound could also perform well in the race, teams may find it worthwhile to save a set during qualifying.

Pirelli is bringing the C2, C3 and C4 compounds to Texas. Last year, teams mainly opted for a one-stop strategy using the C3 and C4, while the hardest available compound went unused during the race. Williams is prepared for that hard tyre to remain in the garage on Sunday this year as well.