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From F1 to IndyCar: A Dive into the World of Motorsport
Beyond the Formula 1 circus, international motorsport features many other spectacular championships, each with its own unique history and challenges.
By Michael de Vries - 2026-07-12T23:31:00.000Z - 2 min read
Formula 1, the undisputed pinnacle of motorsport, celebrates its 75th anniversary as a world championship in 2025. Drivers' crowns have been awarded here annually since 1950, joined by a constructors' title starting in 1958. Names like Lewis Hamilton, who in 2021 became the only driver ever to pass one hundred Grand Prix victories, and the legendary Michael Schumacher are on record as seven-time world champions. Today, ten teams with two drivers each fight for victory, including the ever-present Ferrari, which is the most successful constructor team with sixteen titles.
Just below Formula 1 lies Formula 2, the primary feeder series for upcoming talent. This category has taken various forms over the years: from an open championship until 1984, through Formula 3000 and a brief revival in 2009, to its current incarnation. Following the acquisition of F1 by Liberty Media in 2016, the then-GP2 Series was renamed Formula 2 in 2017, permanently securing its place as the direct stepping stone to the top.
Across the ocean, the IndyCar Series offers a completely different spectacle. Famous for the iconic Indianapolis 500, this American open-wheel category enjoyed its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s under the CART name. Former Formula 1 champions such as Nigel Mansell and Emerson Fittipaldi ventured into the competition at the time, attracting global attention. However, a split in 1996 with the founding of the Indy Racing League led to a period of decline, the impact of which was still felt even after the 2008 merger. Nevertheless, the IndyCar Series, with its spec chassis and diversity of circuits—from ovals to street and road courses—guarantees spectacular confrontations.
Alongside these well-known championships, other leading international series fill the motorsport calendar. Formula E, launched by the FIA in 2014, is known for its fully electric single-seaters that race exclusively on street circuits. For fans of endurance racing, there is the World Endurance Championship (WEC), where prototypes and sports cars compete with the 24 Hours of Le Mans as the ultimate crown jewel.