KitKat has beaten the 11 Formula 1 teams to become the first brand to launch a car ahead of the 2026 season – unveiling a chocolate replica as part of its new global partnership with the sport.
The confectionery brand has revealed a Formula 1-shaped chocolate bar, marking the debut of its new status as the official chocolate bar of F1 and launching what it describes as the first chocolate car of its kind.
The product has been developed by Nestle’s Research and Development Centre for Confectionery in York and is positioned as a showcase of the group’s precision manufacturing and product engineering capabilities.
KitKat’s move continues F1’s expanding push into global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods and lifestyle partnerships, following previous collaborations across confectionery, snacks and soft drinks as the championship targets younger audiences and mainstream consumer markets.
The chocolate car will go on sale from January 2026 in line with the start of F1’s new season and will form part of a wider activation strategy around the championship, including race-weekend appearances, social media campaigns, in-store promotions, merchandise and limited-edition products.
KitKat will also feature in targeted advertising around Netflix’s Drive to Survive series, with Louise Barrett, Head of the Nestle Research and Development Centre for Confectionery, likening the project to the precision engineering that defines Formula 1 itself.
Just as Formula 1 teams apply meticulous precision to every design detail, our KitKat teams have worked tirelessly on elevating even the tiniest design elements.
Louise Barrett
“The R&D Centre in York is a global hub for innovation in confectionery, where pioneering ideas are transformed into reality,” she said.
“Just as Formula 1 teams apply meticulous precision to every design detail, our KitKat teams have worked tirelessly on elevating even the tiniest design elements, drawing on their deep expertise in product development and moulding, to engineer this miniature replica of a Formula 1 car for consumers to enjoy on their next break.”
The launch marks the first time KitKat has produced an F1-inspired product and represents the brand’s most ambitious motorsport activation to date, extending F1’s growing presence across the global consumer goods sector.
The KitKat F1 chocolate car will be available as both a single 29g bar and a multi-pack from mid-January across the UK and Ireland, with wider global distribution planned across Nestle’s core markets during the 2026 season.
