Formula 1, Disney and Mercedes-AMG will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Cars at the Pirelli Italian Grand Prix.
It is the latest step in F1’s Fuel The Magic collaboration with Disney that Sector reported last month had been extended through 2028 and expanded to include the Cars franchise for the first time.
The protagonist of the series, Lightning McQueen, will make a special appearance during the Monza weekend, including an honorary lap, sporting a new look inspired by the wider F1 and Disney partnership, marking what the sport is calling a landmark crossover moment for fans of both franchises.
Alongside McQueen’s appearance, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, the Official FIA F1 Safety Car, will receive a bespoke Cars-inspired makeover created exclusively for race weekend.
The activation builds directly on the wider Fuel the Magic partnership, which expanded beyond Mickey & Friends into Cars for the first time when the extension through 2028 was announced at Disney’s D23 convention in August.
That announcement also confirmed Cars merchandise arriving at the F1 Flagship Store at Monza, timed to coincide with this weekend’s celebration.
Fans attending the race will be able to shop the Disney and Pixar’s Cars collection throughout the weekend, spanning apparel, accessories, collectibles and die-cast vehicles from Mattel.
Select products will also be available online at the Official F1 Store and DisneyStore.com for fans following from home.
Monza represents another of the collaboration’s most visible moments since Fuel the Magic first launched at the 2025 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix, where Mickey Mouse performed a fountain show at the Bellagio.
The partnership has since grown to include F1 Academy tie-ins and a charitable strand through Make-A-Wish, including a Mickey Mouse-inspired helmet that sold for a record £151,000 at auction in July.
