Max Verstappen has said that the ‘unacceptable’ Austin track, home of this weekend’s US Grand Prix, is damaging his spine because it is too bumpy.

The four-time world champion revealed that he and his fellow drivers have complained to the governing FIA about the condition of the Circuit of the Americas layout and asked for solutions but reported that their requests had not been resolved.

He described the circuit, which is 15 miles southeast of Downtown, as ‘out of control’.

‘I love this track, I love this place,’ said the Dutchman. ‘It’s one of the best, one of the best venues, one of the best cities to be at.

‘But the bumps are unacceptable. Over time they’ve found a bit of a solution here and there, but it’s just putting a plaster on the bigger problem.

‘You need to open up the track fully (to sort it out). That costs a lot of money and time but that’s the only way to get rid of it because these bumps are not natural.’

The circuit, which hosted its first race 14 years ago, is built on marshland, and was designed by German Hermann Tilke, then the go-to man for such projects.

Verstappen, 29, added: ‘You can say soil is the problem, but you need to make sure you reinforce it more.’

Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli, just 20, can win the title here in the US if he extends his lead from 102 points to 125 with what would then be five rounds remaining.