This Sunday marks the final ride for Motorsports Christmas, one of the best traditions in professional motorsports.
What is Motorsports Christmas? It's the packed day of racing that features three of the top series in the world -- Formula 1, NTT IndyCar Series, and NASCAR Cup Series. It "requires" viewers to sit in front of their TVs for roughly 13 hours.
It's like the NFL's Thanksgiving Day slate of games, but it is built for gearheads.
Motorsports Christmas kicks off at 9 a.m. ET with Formula 1's Monaco Grand Prix, which takes place on the streets of Monte Carlo, Monaco. The Mediterranean Sea provides a picturesque backdrop as top drivers such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton, and Oscar Piastri battle for a prestigious win. ESPN will provide coverage in the United States.
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The motorsports-centric day continues with the Indianapolis 500, the biggest event of the NTT IndyCar Series season. This prestigious race will take place at 12:45 p.m. ET. Fox will provide coverage for the first time as Josef Newgarden tries to win for the third consecutive time.
Motorsports Christmas will conclude with the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR Cup Series race. This is one of the four crown jewels of stock car racing, and it is the longest race of the Cup season. NASCAR teams use this race to honor military members who gave their lives in service of the country, and they take a break in the middle of the 600-mile event for a moment of silence.
The Coca-Cola 600 will air for the first time on Prime Video at 6 p.m. ET (pre-race show at 5 p.m. ET). This is the streamer's first event as it moves into NASCAR as part of a seven-year deal.
Why is Motorsports Christmas ending? The reason is a contract agreement. Back in November, F1 signed a six-year extension of its deal with the Automobile Club of Monaco (ACM). This ensures that the Monaco Grand Prix will continue to take place annually through 2031.
However, the announcement revealed that the Monaco Grand Prix will shift from its annual May date to the first full weekend in June, starting with the 2026 season. This meant that it would no longer line up with the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600.
Sunday will be the final opportunity for motorsports fans to enjoy what has become a special tradition, so they will have to celebrate properly while hoping that the weather does not affect any of the events.