That is a mighty interesting way to start a race weekend. As Autosport reports, Max Verstappen opened his United States Grand Prix campaign with a pair of promising practice sessions, slotting into second and third place across Friday's running. In both outings, the four-time world champion found himself less than two tenths behind Charles Leclerc, who set the benchmark on each occasion.
While Red Bull Racing isn't currently dominating the field in the way they managed in Malaysia, Verstappen was nonetheless happy with the early behavior of the RB22 in Texas. The Dutchman noted that finding the right compromise between low and high-speed corners on this track is never easy, especially given the severe bumps that demand careful rhythm and balance. Adjustments between FP1 and FP2 helped, leading the driver to conclude that it was not a bad day at all.
GPS data tells a very clear story about where the time is being gained and lost. Technical director Pierre Wache made it plain that low-speed performance is the primary focus for the team right now. Comparing the fastest laps of Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli, and Verstappen reveals that the slowest corners belong firmly to Ferrari territory, with Leclerc showing immense strength on the brakes and exit of Turn 1, as well as at the Turn 11 slow left-hander.
At the end of the long straight, Verstappen holds an advantage, sitting almost a tenth ahead of Leclerc's time, while Antonelli sits more than two tenths ahead. Unfortunately, that momentum vanishes through Turns 12 to 16, another slower section where the RB22 drops considerable ground. Wache's diagnosis is direct, pointing straight to low-speed traction as the core issue to solve.
Then you have the sheer physical challenge of the circuit layout itself. Verstappen already described the bumps as unacceptable and out of control on Thursday, and Wache confirmed that the car is jumping heavily, particularly under braking at Turn 1. The machinery simply isn't compliant enough over the brutal surface changes.
That harsh ride isn't just about team choices, but rather a wider trait of this generation of machines. With active aerodynamics and straight mode lifting the cars on the straights to protect the skid blocks, teams can run aggressive ride heights. The result is an ultra-low stance right under braking and through corners—precisely where the Circuit of the Americas delivers its roughest bumps. With qualifying approaching, taming those bumps and unlocking low-speed grip are Red Bull's clear priorities.
