The House of Mouse: Mickey and Friends Announce Partnership with Formula 1

A new collaboration is coming to Formula 1 in 2026, and it will be fun for all ages to enjoy. Mickey and Friends will officially join forces with F1 next year with new experiences, merchandise, and content.

The iconic mouse and Formula 1 will collaborate in 2026. Courtesy of Disney.

Mickey Mouse is one of the most recognizable and iconic characters, and this new relationship will help to expand the growing number of younger fans gaining interest in the sport. However, this collaboration doesn’t only appeal to children; several age ranges can get excited about this one-of-a-kind matchup.

This isn’t the first time Formula 1 has partnered with a popular character, as the Vegas Grand Prix recently collaborated with Peanuts during their race weekend in 2024. The collection was available only in Vegas, with a few select pieces available online.

The Peanuts collab was a massive hit, so it’s no surprise that Disney decided to join the mix. Disney is a known creative space, constantly reinventing the wheel. It’s a hub for innovation, so it’s the perfect company to partner with Formula 1.

The 2024 LVGP x Peanut collab was a huge hit. Courtesy of Licenseglobal.com.

The partnership was first announced in a social media video featuring Formula 1 cars doing doughnuts, eventually showcasing the iconic Mickey Mouse head symbol. These two brands are so recognizable that words didn’t even need to be spoken for viewers to realize the future impact this could have. 

Many changes are coming to the sport in 2026, with the new regulations being implemented and Cadillac being added as an 11th team. Next year is the perfect time to add new partnerships and gain traction and engagement while so much is changing.

This isn’t only a big change for the sport, as Disney also expects to incorporate elements of Formula 1 into its brand, marking a massive campaign for both sides of this partnership. 

This isn’t the first time these two worlds have collided, as a few familiar faces in F1 have made their acting debut in Disney films. Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso have all lent their voices in short cameos in none other than the Cars franchise. On top of that, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz had voice-acting roles in different versions of the Lightyear film.

Lewis Hamilton (right) as himself in the Cars 2 movie. Courtesy of Autoevolution.com.

While not much is known about the upcoming collaboration, fans can expect big things to come. Disney isn’t for staying under the radar, and it’s safe to assume it will be worth the wait when it arrives.

There is still a lot of time until 2026, and until then, viewers can follow both brands on social media to stay up-to-date on more information that will be revealed throughout the next year. Even with many months to go, neither brand will leave fans hanging, and many teasers should be dropped before it officially goes live.

With fun new partnerships like these, the doors have opened for even more creativity and exciting opportunities for fans to enjoy in the future. Each of these new features can help grow the sport in a multitude of ways. Whether in the form of support or monetary value, there is much to be excited about in Formula 1.

Edited by Reese Dlabach