Motorsport fans call it “Motorsport Christmas,” that electric final Sunday in May when three of racing’s crown jewels light up the globe: the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600. It’s a high-octane holiday, a marathon of elite competition that pulls fans from Monte Carlo’s glitzy streets to Indy’s high-speed oval, then to Charlotte’s grueling stock car slog. From dawn to dusk, living rooms hum with watch parties, grills sizzle, and fans soak in the clash of open-wheel finesse, American grit, and NASCAR endurance.

But this cherished tradition is cracking. Starting in 2026, Monaco’s Grand Prix shifts to June’s first weekend, part of a contract locking the race in F1’s calendar through 2031. The tripleheader’s magic, that seamless flow of iconic races, is gone. Fans are already mourning the end of Motorsport Christmas, but Formula 1’s not done stirring the pot. While the tradition is already breaking, F1 has launched an attack directed straight at the Indianapolis 500, and in turn, Roger Penske.

Formula 1 eyes to compete against the Indy 500

Critics sometimes slap Formula 1 with labels like arrogant or elitist, and that can feel harsh. Then comes a move like Tuesday’s 2026 calendar reveal, and suddenly, those tags don’t seem so far off. F1’s schedule drops a bombshell: the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal will run head-to-head with the Indianapolis 500, same day, same time, same continent. Indy’s green flag waves at 12:45 p.m. ET, racing for about three hours. Montreal’s Grand Prix kicks off at 2 p.m. ET, lasting 90 minutes to two hours. If those slots hold, the races will overlap completely, forcing fans to pick a side.

The Indy 500, part of motorsport’s Triple Crown alongside Monaco and Le Mans, isn’t some obscure event. Fernando Alonso ditched Monaco in 2017 to chase Indy’s glory, and tried again in 2019 and 2020. F1 drivers geek out over Indy’s legacy, yet F1, owned by American giant Liberty Media, is planting its flag right on Indy’s turf. With a $3.65 billion revenue surge in 2024, F1’s riding a “Drive to Survive” wave, packing U.S. grandstands with fans who treat drivers like pop stars. Montreal’s 1.8 million U.S. viewers last year pale next to Indy’s 7 million, but F1’s betting its global muscle can flex.

Why poke the bear? F1’s calendar needed to pair Miami and Montreal for travel ease, and mid-May Canadian weather nixed an earlier slot. But optics? F1 didn’t blink. Instead of respecting Indy’s 109-year Memorial Day lock, F1’s move screams dominance, like a lion swatting at a rival. Social media’s buzzing with fans calling it “disrespectful,” one X post labeling it a “high school power play.” Even NASCAR diehards, who’d wake early for Monaco, feel the sting. Motorsport Christmas was a love letter to racing’s variety, a day when fans could savor every flavor without choosing. Now, F1’s forcing a split.

This isn’t just a scheduling quirk—it’s a shot at Roger Penske, and his motorsports empire. He has poured millions into elevating IndyCar and the IMS, making the 500 a sellout with nearly 350,000 fans. His 20 Indy 500 wins as a team owner are unmatched, but F1’s move threatens that prestige. Fans on Reddit wonder if F1’s banking on North American growth to overshadow Indy, especially with a Brad Pitt F1 flick hitting theaters in June. Liberty Media’s deals with Disney and Pepsi fuel F1’s juggernaut, but motorsport’s ecosystem is fragile. NASCAR’s early-2000s boom, when it eyed NFL dominance, crashed when greed and ego alienated fans. F1’s not there yet, but challenging Indy feels like a risky turn.

Could F1 have forgotten Indy’s May anchor? Doubtful. The series that celebrates its 75th anniversary knows racing’s history. Motorsport thrives when series lift each other, not tear each other down. Fans don’t need tribal wars over which series reigns supreme—they want to cheer for speed, skill, and heart. F1’s Canadian clash feels like a power grab, and while it might not dent Indy’s domestic draw, it’s a gamble that could sour the sport’s goodwill.

Ross Chastain climbs as Penske stumbles in NASCAR’s 2025 fight

While F1 takes aim at Penske’s Indy empire, his NASCAR squad, Team Penske, is feeling the heat on home soil. The 2025 Cup Series standings shifted after Michigan’s race, with Ross Chastain surging and Penske’s stars slipping. Chastain, the scrappy underdog, nabbed a sixth-place finish, vaulting to eighth in the standings.

His climb knocked Team Penske’s Joey Logano, a three-time champ, down to ninth after a rough day in the No. 22 Ford. Logano’s teammate, Austin Cindric, took a harder hit, plummeting from 13th to 16th after a 31st-place flop. Cindric’s locked into the playoffs with a Talladega win, but the drop stings for a team chasing a fourth straight title. Not to forget, those playoff bonus points do count, making that regular season title oh-so important.

Chastain’s rise is no fluke. His never-back-down style has fans buzzing on X, one calling him “the guy who’ll race you for the last chicken wing.” Meanwhile, Penske’s Michigan woes add pressure to a team already reeling from an IndyCar cheating scandal that saw two cars penalized at the 500. Denny Hamlin’s Michigan win pushed him to third, overtaking teammate Christopher Bell, while William Byron holds the points lead over Kyle Larson.

For Penske, the NASCAR grind is a chance to rebound, but with F1’s calendar jab and Chastain’s charge, the Captain’s empire faces battles on all fronts. The checkered flag’s still out there, but the road’s getting bumpy.