Several races over recent years have been delayed following a rain shower, despite the circuit not being submerged in water.

This was the case at the recent Belgian Grand Prix, where rain was present throughout the weekend.

Very little running took place when it was actually raining, despite the circuit having been drivable a lot of the time.

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Whilst the track surface might be okay more often than not, spray has for several years now been the biggest issue.

With the sport recently moving to bigger tyres, more spray is being thrown up into the air, reducing visibility.

Verstappen recently admitted that it’s been near impossible to see in the rain for a “very long time”, but that there is little which can be done.

“We went to the bigger tyres, that makes it worse because there is more displacement,” Verstappen told media including RacingNews365.com.

“The shape of the car… it’s so big so you have more spray. It is worse than it was in 2016 but it was also bad then.

“I remember the race in Brazil, where I was at the back after the pit stop, I couldn’t even see Fernando spinning off the track.

“The whole spray I kept it flat but I didn’t see anything, but from knowing where you’re going from all the other laps, you just keep it pinned.

“But if there would have been someone standing [still], you would have completely driven through.

“It’s bad, but it has been bad for a very long time so I don’t think there is a lot we can do about it.”

More often than not, even when the track is wet, all the drivers will still pit for a set of Intermediates, due to the Full Wet tyres being so slow.

Spa-Francorchamps arguably receives more attention than others when it’s raining, due to the sizeable accidents which usually occur in the wet.

Very recently, 18-year-old Dilano van ‘t Hoff was killed in a crash at the historic venue, due to a lack of visibility.

READ: Carlos Sainz to walk away from Ferrari next year

Verstappen recognises that the rain does sadly cause some horrific crashes which has led to a more precautious approach to wet weather by race directors, but that the only way to end big crashes happening in challenging conditions is to become “like NASCAR” and stop wet sessions.

“Of course, certain accidents happen that have a bad outcome and then people naturally start to talk about it more. But if you look at it that way, you can’t really race in the rain any more because there will always be problems with visibility,” Verstappen added.

“That would a shame. Then it becomes like NASCAR, they don’t drive in the rain either.”

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Van Gisbergen emerged triumphant on America’s first-ever street circuit race, qualifying third on the grid and overtaking Justin Haley to secure the win in Chicago. 

Verstappen, a friend and fellow Team Redline driver, stayed up late after his own victory in the Austrian Grand Prix to support Van Gisbergen, who became the first person in 60 years to win on their NASCAR debut.

Verstappen expressed his nervousness and excitement while watching Van Gisbergen’s race, stating, “I’ve never felt so nervous in my life watching someone else race and trying to win it. 

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“I was literally screaming in front of the TV or my monitor for him to win.” 

The Red Bull driver was thoroughly impressed by Van Gisbergen’s ability to adapt to the unfamiliar NASCAR Cup car, considering it an exceptional achievement.

Describing Van Gisbergen’s versatility, Verstappen acknowledged the Australian driver’s skills across various disciplines. 

Van Gisbergen has previously excelled in Australian Supercars (formerly V8 Supercars) and demonstrated prowess in rally and now NASCAR. 

Verstappen commented, “He’s a crazy right-foot braker still.” 

The Red Bull driver admitted that he is unable to replicate Van Gisbergen’s unique driving technique, which allows him to achieve rapid lap times while conserving fuel. 

Verstappen has witnessed Van Gisbergen’s skills first-hand during their time together at Team Redline, including racing on simulators.

Verstappen wasted no time in reaching out to Van Gisbergen to congratulate him on his impressive victory. 

READ: Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso to miss press conference

While the response was delayed due to the celebrations, Verstappen expressed his joy for his friend’s accomplishment. 

However, the Dutch driver ruled out the possibility of participating in a NASCAR race himself, emphasising that it is not his style. 

Verstappen enjoys watching NASCAR and finds it incredibly cool, but his involvement would be limited to being a spectator and enjoying the show with a beer in hand.

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The former McLaren driver is competing in three races this season in Rick Ware Racing’s No. 15 Ford with support from Stewart-Haas Racing.

Button’s first NASCAR appearance came at the Circuit of the Americas in March, where he salvaged P18.

He was set for a significantly better result than 18th; however, a late flurry of yellow flags as well as an unwelcomed bout of heat exhaustion hampered his chances.

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Competing at COTA in NASCAR rather than F1 was certainly an experience for Button, who was left wanting more.

“I think for half the race at COTA, I thought, ‘I don’t want to do this again.’ But for the other half of the race, I thought, ‘This is awesome, just awesome,’ in terms of the racing, the wheel-to-wheel action and not giving an inch,” Button said Tuesday, as reported by Motorsport.com.

“I definitely enjoyed that, and it’s something you do miss in single-seaters, especially in Formula 1 because the amount of downforce you have, there isn’t so much wheel-to-wheel action. I feel I had more wheel-to-wheel action in the first lap of the race at COTA than I do in a whole grand prix.

“So, loads of emotions – positive and negative – at COTA. Does it make me want to do it more? Yeah.”

All of Button’s appearances this season are to be at road and street courses, rather than ovals.

Button is keen to compete in a NASCAR oval race “one day” but is very aware that most of the grid have raced on ovals “since they were five or six years old”.

“It’s another world,” Button admitted.

“These guys have driven ovals since they were five or six years old. So, why would I be good there? I don’t know. It’s a possibility, but it’s a lot of work.

“It’s already enough getting used to driving such a big car for me, and the style of racing is a big step as well. Maybe one day. But I’m very happy and very lucky to be doing the three races I’m doing this year.”

Looking ahead to next weekend’s race in Chicago, Button is expecting it to be a “better” event for him, given that it’s a new venue for the series.

It means nobody will have experienced the venue before, meaning Button will enter the race with as much knowledge as everybody else.

In comparison, COTA was a venue which all the NASCAR drivers have plenty of experience of, with Button having simply been used to driving “within the white lines”.

READ: George Russell admits to deliberately causing crash

“At COTA, I felt like I’m not used to using that much of a circuit. I normally drive within the white lines, and at COTA if you make a mistake, you just run wide and come back on,” Button said.

“You don’t really lose that much time, and again, it’s a very different way of driving.

“Chicago should be better for me. I feel confident that I can have a better result, but it can also all end in Turn 1. So, it doesn’t matter how quick you are, you also need to have a little bit of luck on your side.”

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When he retired from the sport, Raikkonen had recorded 21 wins, 103 podiums and 1873 career points. 

His first win was at the 2003 Malaysian Grand Prix and his last came at the 2018 United States Grand Prix.

The 43-year-old Finn, who claimed the Drivers’ title in 2007 while driving for Ferrari, has become a “dentist” for his daughter.

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In a moment shared on social media by his wife Minttu, Raikkonen was caught helping his child brush her teeth while wearing a dentist’s light on his head.

The photograph was captioned “Dr KR,” with a smiley face emoji added to reflect the adorable nature of the occasion.

A man of few words when speaking to the press, Raikkonen has always shown his softer side off the racetrack as a devoted family man.

READ: Christian Horner reveals Red Bull’s ‘get out of jail’ card with Netflix

Raikkonen currently has two children, with a third on the way, announced back in January.

The Finn’s son could be on course to follow in his father’s footsteps, having won a karting race back in September.

While he’s no longer in Formula 1, Raikkonen hasn’t given up racing all together, competing in the NASCAR Cup Series at the 2022 Go Bowling at The Glen and the 2023 EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.

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Despite having only recently become single again, Alonso is already being linked to a new partner, who just so happens to be one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.

According to an anonymous Instagram page, the double World Champion is secretly dating Taylor Swift, at least if he is, it’s definitely not a secret anymore.

Whilst most can’t quite get their heads around the idea of Alonso and Swift dating, the Aston Martin driver has brilliantly played along with the rumour, by refusing to confirm or deny it.

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The rumour has spread across the world in rapid fashion, with it currently being all over social media.

As a result, several videos have begun to appear on social media of people reacting to the headline, with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace being the latest to give his view on the speculated couple.

“Your thought on Fernando and Taylor Swift dating?” Wallace was asked.

“What’s that?” Wallace responded, whilst looking completely baffled by what he’d been told.

“Apparently Fernando and Taylor Swift are an item,” the reporter said.

“I swear that’s what the internet says,” the reporter added, whilst Wallace continued to look comically confused.

“I’ll have to get Amanda to confirm that she’s going to her concert Kansas weekend,” said Wallace.

“I mean the internet is blaze,” stated the reporter.

“What?” said Wallace.

“I swear,” the reporter replied whilst laughing.

“Good for him,” said Wallace, “damn good for her, yeah”

READ: Who will replace Sergio Perez as Max Verstappen’s team-mate?

Alonso was bombarded with questions on Thursday as to whether the rumour is actually true, to which he often replied by stating: “I’m just focused on Baku and racing and let’s see,” Alonso told Sky Sports F1, whilst grinning like a child.

If the rumour is true then it’d certainly be the star of an international power couple, given the duo’s individual following.

Given how challenging the Baku City Circuit is, Alonso will likely try to put the Swift rumours into ‘Blank Space’ for the time being, with his full concentration needing to be on the new sprint format.

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The famous Finn competed in the Project 91 car last year at Watkins Glen International, where he was amongst the top 10 before crashing into a barrier following a restart.

The former Ferrari driver injured his wrist in the process, but it didn’t take away the “fantastic time” that he had.

He’s excited, though, to be making his return at a circuit he knows very well, with it actually being the place he claimed his final win in F1 in 2018.

READ: ‘Desperate’ Lewis Hamilton likely to join Ferrari next year

“I had a fantastic time in NASCAR,” said Raikkonen, as reported by Autosport.

“There was a lot to learn in a very short amount of time, but everyone was very helpful, the competition was a big challenge.

“This time I get to race on a track I am familiar with so there won’t be as steep of a learning curve. I want to have fun, but also do as well as we can.”

Raikkonen has raced at the host of the United States Grand Prix eight times to-date, with no test days expected to take place for the popular Finn before he competes in the NASCAR Cup round at COTA.

Trackhouse co-owner Justin Marks is incredibly pleased to welcome Raikkonen back into the team, with Marks remembering fondly the “superstar” reception the Finn received from the fans.

“When we announced Kimi last year I said he was the global superstar I had in mind when we created Project 91. I think you saw the fan reception across the world and Kimi’s performance in the car was proof of the concept,” Marks said.

READ: Red Bull engineer claims their ‘sponsors need airtime’ after Max Verstappen domination

“Kimi’s following is massive and it’s great for NASCAR, Trackhouse plus I think Kimi really enjoys our racing.”

The aim of the Trackhouse Project 91 is to field “world class” drivers from different championships in the NASCAR Cup, something which certainly grabs heaps of attention from the world.

Raikkonen will likely be watched closely come the race by the F1 community, given his incredible popularity.

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The Netflix series ‘Drive to Survive’ has given American fans access to behind the scenes footage that has helped them develop an understanding for the sport that was previously heavily based in Europe.

The US Grand Prix in Austin last season broke the attendance record, proving that Formula 1 is growing much more popular stateside, coming to rival the likes of IndyCar and NASCAR.

Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Clint Bowyer has been less positive about the growth of F1 however, willing to bet money on the fact that NASCAR will still provide a better product that F1.

READ: Valtteri Bottas defends Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel

“This is tailor-made for you,” he said ahead of the Busch Light Clash pre-season event.

“You have action like the sport’s never had and a format – we take a break and put on a concert for crying out loud.

“I guarantee you I’ll put my money up against this product versus anything F1 brings to the United States.”

Bowyer could be set to lose his money however, as the Las Vegas Grand Prix is set to become one of the biggest sporting events of all time when it makes its debut towards the end of 2023.

Officials have claimed that the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix will bring in over a billion dollars in commercial revenue, more than is expected to be generated by the Super Bowl later this year.

The event will see the drivers race through the streets of the famous Las Vegas strip, navigating many of the famous landmarks along the way.

READ: Frederic Vasseur reacts to Ferrari rumour which would’ve alarmed Red Bull and Mercedes

Fox Sports’ lap-by-lap announcer Mike Joy has been slightly more positive about F1 compared to his colleague, suggesting that the two sports are very different.

“Certainly, ‘Drive to Survive’ has brought a whole new audience to Formula 1 – people who enjoy reality TV, people who enjoy soap operas. Racing is a soap opera, it’s just different the way it plays out on Sunday,” he said.

“Formula 1 is a worldwide phenomenon and I think it’s completely different from NASCAR, especially in regard to the workings within the teams. I think here NASCAR is much more of an every driver for himself structure than Formula 1.”

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Formula 1 has grown rapidly in the United States over recent years, with the F1-based Netflix docuseries ‘Drive to Survive’ being a main reason for that.

The docuseries has been a remarkable success across the pond, with the sport’s American owners having also worked wonders with growing the sport.

America is very much a key hub for F1 nowadays, with the nation boasting three races from 2023, an American team (Haas), and an American driver for the first time since 2015.

READ: Mercedes to return to the top with Lewis Hamilton in 2023

As if that wasn’t enough, American manufacturer Ford have announced their return for 2026, whilst Andretti Autosport and General Motors are edging ever closer to entering a new American team.

With all of that in mind, Sargeant has recognised that F1 has become “pretty popular” in his home country, to the point where it may be the most popular motorsport in the nation.

“It seems almost as big as NASCAR and IndyCar, if not bigger,” Sargeant told media, as quoted by RaceFans.

“It’s hard to say without seeing the numbers.

“But it seems like it’s pretty popular, and that’s a positive.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of diehard IndyCar and NASCAR fans who don’t always like it,” Sargeant continued.

“But I think with the way the sport is going in America, it will, if it’s not already, it will be the biggest here shortly.”

Sargeant admits that it wasn’t that long ago that “anyone really cared” about the sport, but that now he receives constant messages of people recognising how big the series is.

He labels F1 in America as a “completely different world” now, with “everyone” knowing what the sport is.

“To be honest, I don’t think back in the day anyone really cared, anyone really understood what it was,” he said.

“It’s funny, people text me now and be like ‘hey, I realise how big of a thing this could eventually be or how big F1 really was’.

“It’s a completely different world now in terms of America. Everyone knows what Formula 1 is now over there. It’s nice to see the transition and hopefully it keeps growing.”

READ: Pictures: Alfa Romeo reveal ‘stunning’ livery after accidentally leaking it

Given that he is the first American F1 driver since 2015, Sargeant will presumably receive immense support at all three races in the United States in 2023, with the rookie having the “privilege” of having several home races

“I think coming into the sport, straight into a year where there’s three US grands prix is a special opportunity and a privilege at the same time,” he said.

“F1 in America is clearly at its peak and it’s still on the way up, which is a massive positive. You can see how many questions from friends and family and how curious people are about the sport and it does show how much it’s growing in America.”

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For the Garage 56 sqaud however, this is a gamble that they hope will pay off, as 2009 F1 champion Jenson Button and seven-time NASCAR cup series champion Jimmie Johnson will be joining the team for this year’s Le Mans 24-hour race.

The pair will be linking up with 2010 Le Mans winner Mike Rockenfeller with Garage 56, meaning the team boast a trio of champions from all different avenues of racing.

Have a NASCAR driver taking part in Le Mans may seem like a slightly odd combination but in a statement released by the team, Johnson expressed his delight at being able to take part in such an iconic race.

READ: Lewis Hamilton reveals discussion with Toto Wolff about racial abuse

“I’m super thrilled – it’s been at the top of my bucket list to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans someday,” he said.

“To have this opportunity come – and to partner with everybody and this driver lineup – is a truly incredible opportunity and one that I am thankful to be a part of.”

After retiring from Formula 1 in 2017, Jenson button has tried his hand in the Super GT GT500 championship, impressively winning the championship itself in 2018.

Having been on the sidelines for a while now, Button has said it is a dream come true to race at Le Mans with his close friends.

“As a lifelong racing fan, I have always dreamed of racing certain cars, with and against certain drivers and competing in certain events,” he said.

READ: ‘I will run it as I want’: Frederic Vasseur breaks silence on Ferrari concern

“In June, a number of those dreams will come true in one event when I get to bring NASCAR to the world stage alongside my pals Jimmie and ‘Rocky’ for the 100^th anniversary of the most prestigious race in the world.

“I’m really looking forward to sharing this journey with NASCAR, Hendrick Motorsports, Chevrolet and Goodyear, and current and future NASCAR fans from around the world.”

The team will drive a Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the event which has been customised and adapted for the event, with a new chassis and suspension being part of the car’s Le Mans overhaul.

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It is no shock that Ricciardo is set for a year on the side-lines, after two woeful seasons at the Woking-based team.

His victory at the 2021 Italian Grand Prix certainly covers over some of the cracks that have been appearing since last season, with his performances having failed to improve this year.

In actual fact, the recent Mexican Grand Prix was by far his best race of the season, after storming through the field to claim seventh.

READ: ‘That is the big question’: Haas boss reveals how they will decide Mick Schumacher’s future

He’s made it well-known that his plan is to return to full-time F1 in 2024; however, whether this happens is another question.

His plans for 2023 appear to involve a lot of time with Mercedes, as reports suggest that the 33-year-old is set to sign for the Silver Arrows to become their new test and reserve driver.

This is against what a lot of fans have been asking him to do, with many wanting the Aussie to venture into the United States and take up NASCAR.

Whilst this is an unlikely switch for the Honey Badger, he admitted that it can’t be “completely” ruled out.

“The truth is that I wouldn’t completely rule it out,” said Ricciardo.

“It’s not a definitive no.

“The ovals are close to definitively saying no, but some road course stuff in NASCAR or something, I wouldn’t completely rule it out.

“I know I’m not getting any younger but I would still say not yet.”

Ricciardo truly has a desire to return to F1 in 2024, which is meaning he’s “not ready to commit” to another series elsewhere.

Getting a seat in 2024 is set to be a real challenge, though, with no top seats set to be available, with the only option set to realistically be at Haas for the Aussie.

Whilst seats at Alfa Romeo and AlphaTauri would be an option, it’s incredibly unlikely they’d take Ricciardo.

“It’s really that I still have my sights set on F1 and staying in F1, albeit with some time off next year,” the Aussie added.

“So I’m probably, also personally, not ready to commit to exploring that.

READ: Sebastian Vettel says Aston Martin ‘contributed’ to his decision to retire

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a cool fairytale kind of thing of racing in America. I know I would love all of it.

“But I feel like in this paddock I feel very American. If I go into a NASCAR paddock, I’m the least American person there is.

“It’s funny. We’ll see.”

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