Welcome to the Jalopnik Weekend Motorsports Roundup, where we let you know what's going on in the world of racing, where you can see it, and where you can talk about it all in one convenient place. Where else would you want to spend your weekend?
Formula One is back, and it already gave us the bird! In case you missed the nuttiness over the past few days, Sauber will be running Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson, as Giedo van der Garde waived his right to race and dropped the Contempt of Court application against the team yesterday. No fines, no jail time: just race time. Van der Garde and Sauber settled their final disputes outside of court before Free Practice 3.
Manor Marussia has been trying all week to get their cars just to work. Unfortunately for them, they were still wrenching on the car by the time everyone entered parc ferme. According to Motorsport.com, Manor's biggest hang-up is the complicated software which needs an update to run with all the new components on the car. They are now aiming to make the Malaysian Grand Prix their first race.
Oh, and Red Bull's Renault power units are a hot mess. Ricciardo was already on power unit number two after the first day of practice, both he and Kyvat have been plagued by gremlins, and this little chatola between Red Bull and a Renault rep looks like the most uncomfortable discussion ever:
"Oui, oui, we understand ze engine is le poop."
Given that each driver is limited to four power units for the entire season this year, this is a huge blow for Red Bull and Ricciardo. We should've kept Korea on the schedule to make it long enough for that fifth engine after all, I guess.
As for the youngsters? The kids are all right after all. Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz Jr. both look as if they belong in these cars. They're on-pace in the mid-field Toro Rossos. Red Bull wasn't off their rockers after all. (Well, except for the whole sticking to Renault engines on the main Red Bull team thing. That is still lunacy, but what can you do?)
What else is happening this weekend? There's the wonderful Mint 400 desert race. It's not on television, but Andrew Collins outlined all the other ways to follow the action here. The 12 Hours of Mugello is also happening right now (and a little over halfway done), but also won't be on television. Instead, you can find a live stream of the entire event on the Hankook 24H Series site here.
Formula E returns as well, this time in Miami. Damon Lavrinc is there checking it out and I'm so jealous that he got to drive one of the cars that I need to give Fluffy Bunny a hug.
NASCAR continues onward, meeting at Phoenix International Raceway. The Sprint Cup will run the CampingWorld.com 500, which is actually a Sprint Cup race and not a Camping World Series Truck race at all. NASTRUCKS aren't even running this weekend, although the Xfinity Series is there.
The NHRA season continues as well, this weekend with the Gatornationals. According to John Force, recently engaged daughter Courtney Force is allegedly worth a camel and several goats, or a BMW in dowry, depending on when you ask [via the Associated Press]. They'll both be there (sans goats, sadly), although it's Matt Hagan's early domination of the Funny Car class that's making headlines on track.
In addition to the live stuff, we get two big, awesome replays: Pirelli World Challenge from Austin and V8 Supercars' season opener. That's right: Supercars, on TV, no Superview needed.
If you know about anything we missed, or about good livestreams out there, let us know in the comments below.
All times below are EDT.
Hankook 24H Series 12 Hours of Mugello
Mugello Circuit
Mugello, Tuscany, Italy
11:30 PM Friday live-streaming on 24hourseries.com/live
NASCAR Sprint Cup CampingWorld.com 500 Qualifying
Phoenix International Raceway
Tolleson, AZ
10:00 AM Saturday on FS1 (replay from 3/13)
Pirelli World Challenge GT/GTA/GT Cup
Circuit of the Americas
Austin, TX
11:00 AM Saturday on CBSSN (replay from 3/7-8; replay at 8:00 AM Sunday on CBSSN)
NASCAR Sprint Cup CampingWorld.com 500 Practice 2
Phoenix International Raceway
Tolleson, AZ
11:30 AM Saturday on FS1
FIA World Rally Championship Racing 2015
12:00 PM Saturday on MAVTV (replay at 3:00 PM Saturday on MAVTV)
American SportBike Racing Association Daytona 200
Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, FL
12:30 PM Saturday live-streaming on FansChoice.tv
NASCAR Xfinity Series Axalta Faster Tougher Brighter 200 Qualifying
Phoenix International Raceway
Tolleson, AZ
12:30 PM Saturday on FS1
NASCAR Sprint Cup CampingWorld.com 500 Practice 3
Phoenix International Raceway
Tolleson, AZ
2:30 PM Saturday on FS1
Formula E Miami ePrix
Biscayne Bay
Miami, FL
3:30 PM Saturday on FS2 (replay at 5:30 PM Saturday on FS1)
NASCAR Xfinity Series Axalta Faster Tougher Brighter 200
Phoenix International Raceway
Tolleson, AZ
4:00 PM Saturday on FOX
AMA Supercross
Lucas Oil Stadium
Indianapolis, IN
7:00 PM Saturday on FS2 (replay at 3:30 AM Sunday on FS1)
National Arenacross
Tampa Bay Times Forum
Tampa, FL
11:00 PM Saturday on FS2 (replay from 2/21-22)
Formula One Australian Grand Prix
Albert Park
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
12:30 AM Sunday on NBCSN (replay at 6:00 AM Sunday on NBCSN)
NHRA Gatornationals Qualifying
Auto Plus Raceway at Gainesville
Gainesville, FL
1:30 AM Sunday on ESPN2 (replay from 3/14; replay at 7:00 AM Sunday on ESPN2)
AMSOIL Championship Snocross Hollywood Casino National Round 2
Route 66 Raceway
Joliet, IL
10:00 AM Sunday on CBSSN (replay from 2/21)
NHRA Gatornationals
Auto Plus Raceway at Gainesville
Gainesville, FL
11:00 AM Sunday on ESPN3.com (replay at 7:00 PM Sunday on ESPN2)
FIM Motocross MXGP
Thailand Circuit
Nakhonchaisri, Nakhonpathom, Thailand
11:00 AM Sunday on CBSSN (replay from 3/8)
National Arenacross
Spirit Center
Kansas City, MO
11:00 AM Sunday on CBSSN (replay from 2/28)
Australian V8 Supercars Clipsal 500
Adelaide Street Circuit
Adelaide, South Australia
12:00 PM Sunday on CBSSN (replay from 2/28-3/1)
NASCAR Sprint Cup CampingWorld.com 500
Phoenix International Raceway
Tolleson, AZ
3:30 PM Sunday on FOX
Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals
River Spirit Expo Center
Tulsa, Oklahoma
8:00 PM Sunday on MAVTV (replay from 1/17)
Photo credit: Getty Images
Contact the author of this post at stef.schrader@jalopnik.com.