Two giants of entertainment and sport – Disney and Formula 1 – announced a surprising new collaboration last week, set to hit the track in 2026. As someone who adores both, I’ve spent the past week thinking: what exactly can we expect from this partnership?
What Can We Expect to See in Formula 1?
When I first heard the news, my mind immediately jumped to Cadillac, the new American constructor joining the Formula 1 grid in 2026. Sponsorships are a pivotal way F1 teams fund their car development, and with Cadillac being an American team, a major Disney sponsorship seemed like a logical fit.
However, upon reading the press release, it’s clear the collaboration is between the overarching Formula 1 brand and Disney, rather than with an individual team. The release states that fans can “look forward to seeing Mickey & Friends in F1 through experiences, content, and merchandise around the globe.” This sounds much more like Formula 1’s recent collaboration with the LEGO Group, which has given us everything from merchandise to a hilarious mini-race featuring drivers in full-scale LEGO replica cars.
There are a whole host of exciting opportunities within Formula 1. We could see interactive zones at Grand Prix circuits, Disney-themed pre and post-race shows or entertainment, and, of course, character appearances. Don’t be surprised if Disney-themed race car liveries feature at races, whether across all teams or just individual ones. The Mickey and Friends themed livery showcased in the announcement photos actually looks super eye-catching, and I truly hope we see more of this in the future!
The Cars franchise will no doubt embed itself into Formula 1 somehow. Could we see Lightning McQueen racing the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen? This could be similar to the LEGO mini-race we saw at Miami this year. While the press release specifically frames this as a Mickey and Friends collaboration, there are a few drivers on the current grid who are openly Cars fans. Because of that, I fully expect the collaboration to extend beyond the initial announcement.
From a digital perspective, we can expect Disney-themed F1 game content. With F1 25 just released, we might see Disney liveries and even themed tracks as early as next year. F1 x Disney mobile app integration also seems plausible, especially with F1’s ongoing push to target younger fans.
What can we expect to see in the world of Disney?
As with any Disney partnership, there’s one thing we can always expect: merchandise! Similar to the LEGO and Formula 1 partnership, we’ll likely see items specifically celebrating this unique pairing. Given LEGO produced Formula 1 race car replicas, expect something similar with Disney – perhaps toy sets featuring Mickey and his friends driving F1 cars?
One category of merchandise I’m certain we’ll see plenty of is apparel. F1 thrives on clothing collaborations — I was gutted to miss out on the Peanuts range last year! It’s an easy win for cross-brand tie-ins, so expect plenty of F1 x Disney clothing available at both the parks and the Grand Prix events.
One of the areas I’m most intrigued to see Formula 1 influence at Disney is, of course, the theme park rides. While there’s no mention of rides in the press release, I can definitely envision F1-themed attractions popping up in Disney theme parks in the near future. EPCOT’s Test Track would be an ideal candidate for an F1-inspired redesign – imagine guests designing their own F1 car before taking it for a spin on the circuit. Interestingly, Test Track is currently being “reimagined” – could this align perfectly with the new collaboration?
Beyond potential new rides, I can certainly see Disney and Formula 1 coming together with promotional content at the Disney theme parks. This is especially plausible given the geographical proximity of several F1 tracks to Disney resorts. The Miami International Autodrome is approximately 350 km from Walt Disney World in Orlando, the Suzuka Circuit is around 400 km from Tokyo Disneyland, and the Shanghai International Circuit is just 30 km from Shanghai Disneyland. Imagine F1 drivers visiting Disneyland Parks for a day of challenges or a special event, creating unique content for both brands!
One final key point involves Formula 1 broadcasting. Interestingly, ESPN (a Disney-owned company) holds the rights to broadcast Formula 1 in the United States. We’ve previously seen innovative Toy Story-themed NFL coverage featured on Disney+, broadcast via ESPN. I fully expect similar animated broadcasts to appear for Disney+ subscribers, and I really hope they won’t be limited to certain regions.
Overall, the Disney and Formula 1 collaboration holds exciting possibilities for fans of both brands. Personally, I’m all for it, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come!
Steamboat Charlie 