With Formula 1 cars, equipment and personnel jetting into Melbourne for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, the motorsport world has been abuzz with racing.
Below is a summary of what went down this weekend in international motorsport including Indycar, MotoGP, NASCAR and WEC among the series we are keeping an eye on for our readers.
WEC: Ferrari 1-2-3 in Qatar
Ferrari made a commanding start to the 2025 WEC season by securing a one-two-three finish at the Qatar 1812km race. The #51 AF Corse Ferrari 499P Hypercar, driven by James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, and Antonio Giovinazzi, initially led the race from pole position.
However, a drive-through penalty for Giovinazzi due to a Virtual Safety Car infringement dropped them down the order. The privately-run #83 AF Corse entry capitalized on this, with Antonio Fuoco executing a stellar final stint to secure victory. This performance underscores Ferrari's strong intentions for the championship. More detailed report here>>>
Indycar: Defending Champion Palou starts season in style
The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series launched with a commanding victory by Chip Ganassi Racing’s Alex Palou at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on Sunday, 2 March.
The defending champion led the 100-lap race on the 1.8-mile street circuit, securing his 12th career win and reinforcing his pursuit of a third consecutive title. The season opener, broadcast live on Fox under IndyCar’s new television deal, drew a 27-car field, with Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin starting on pole but finishing behind Palou after a strategic tyre battle.
The weekend spotlighted key offseason moves. Tony Kanaan, recently promoted to Team Principal of Arrow McLaren, oversaw a mixed result with Pato O’Ward finishing P8, while teammates Christian Lundgaard and Nolan Siegel placed P11 and P25.
IndyCar.com highlighted Alexander Rossi’s promising debut with Ed Carpenter Racing and PREMA Racing’s entry with Callum Ilott and Robert Shwartzman, marking the Italian team’s IndyCar debut. English-language reports emphasized the race’s tactical depth, with Palou’s team leveraging Firestone’s alternate tyres to maintain the lead over Andretti Global’s Colton Herta, who took third.
No significant French, German, or Italian coverage emerged, but English sources noted McLaughlin’s contract extension with Penske, signalling stability despite Josef Newgarden and Will Power’s struggles.
The event also underscored IndyCar’s evolving landscape and the state of motorsport Stateside, with Chip Ganassi Racing downsizing to three cars and Meyer Shank Racing aligning with Ganassi technically. As Palou crossed the finish line, the St. Petersburg streets echoed with his early season statement, setting the stage for the Thermal Club Indycar Grand Prix on March 23.
The weekend’s blend of veteran prowess and fresh faces promises a competitive 17-race season ahead for motorsport fans.
MotoGP: Marquez tops season-opener in Thailand
The 2025 MotoGP season commenced with the PT Grand Prix of Thailand at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, delivering exhilarating performances and setting the stage for the year ahead.
Marc Márquez, in his debut with the Ducati Lenovo Team, showcased his prowess by securing pole position with a lap time of 1:28.782. This achievement marked a significant milestone, as he became the first rider since Casey Stoner in 2007 to win on their Ducati Grand Prix debut.
The inaugural sprint race of the season saw Márquez maintain his dominance. Leading from start to finish, he clinched victory ahead of his younger brother, Álex Márquez of BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, who finished 1.185 seconds behind. Francesco Bagnaia, Márquez's teammate and a two-time MotoGP champion, secured third place, resulting in an all-Ducati podium. Márquez expressed satisfaction with his performance, highlighting his consistency and race management skills.
The main event on Sunday mirrored the sprint's excitement. Despite an unexpected issue with tyre pressure mid-race, Márquez managed to regain and maintain his lead, finishing 1.732 seconds ahead of Álex Márquez. Bagnaia completed the podium, securing third place. This victory marked Márquez's 63rd in MotoGP and 89th across all categories, making it particularly special as he shared the podium with his brother.
With his stellar performance throughout the weekend, Márquez leads the championship standings with 37 points, marking a perfect start to his campaign. Álex Márquez holds second place with 29 points, followed by Bagnaia with 23 points.
The season opener in Thailand has set a high benchmark for the 2025 MotoGP season. Teams and riders will analyze their performances as they prepare for the next round, aiming to challenge Márquez's early dominance and make their mark in the championship race.
NASCAR: Bell goes back-to-back with dominant COTA victory
Christopher Bell secured his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory by winning the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) on Sunday, March 3.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver executed a flawless race strategy, holding off a late charge from William Byron to claim his first career win at the 3.426-mile road course in Austin, Texas.
Starting from fourth, Bell remained in contention throughout the race, strategically managing tire wear and fuel consumption. The race saw multiple lead changes, with Kyle Busch leading a race-high 42 laps. However, Bell’s decision to stay out longer before his final pit stop proved decisive.
A caution on Lap 78, triggered by Denny Hamlin’s incident with Austin Dillon, reshuffled the field. Bell, benefiting from fresher tyres, overtook Busch in the closing stages and maintained his advantage over Byron, crossing the finish line 0.433 seconds ahead.
“This team is just incredible,” said Bell after his victory. “We made the right calls, stayed patient, and executed when it mattered most. Winning back-to-back is a great feeling, and I’m excited for what’s ahead.”
Tyler Reddick, who started from pole position, converted his strong qualifying effort into a third-place finish, marking a solid weekend for 23XI Racing. Chase Elliott, despite an early Lap 1 spin and a broken toe link, fought back impressively to finish fourth.
Meanwhile, Kyle Busch, who appeared to be in control for much of the race, lost out due to late-race strategy calls and finished fifth.
Top 5 finishers:
- Christopher Bell (Joe Gibbs Racing)
- William Byron (Hendrick Motorsports)
- Tyler Reddick (23XI Racing)
- Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports)
- Kyle Busch (Richard Childress Racing)
The NASCAR Cup Series now heads to Las Vegas Motor Speedway next Sunday, where Bell will aim for a third straight victory. That is for this edition of GRANDPRIX247 Motorsport Wrap.
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