F1 racing is hot right now and it's no surprise they're also getting into a partnership with Disney!
In the United States, auto racing is usually centered around NASCAR. Around the world, the focus is on Formula 1 racing, or just F1. The Grand Prix is a must-watch for millions of racing fans around the world, with major stars like Lewis Hamilton, Nigel Mansell, Sebastian Vettel, and Fernando Alonso as champion drivers.
F1 has grown in popularity, with statistics saying more than 4 million children aged 8-12 now actively follow the sport across the EU and US. It also has a growing following on TikTok and other forms of social media.
F1 is going to get more of a spotlight with an upcoming film of the same name starring Brad Pitt as a former star driver who comes out of retirement to coach a rookie driver. The film is set to be a big summer blockbuster directed by Joseph Kosinski and bringing the thrills of F1 racing to life.
Now, F1 is expanding its reach with a new partnership with Disney that brings Mickey to the world of racing!
What is the F1/Disney deal about?
Announced this week, the new F1/Disney deal will begin in 2026. Details are scarce now, with the press release promising this will involve "experiences, content, and merchandise around the globe."
There were images of Mickey with a custom F1 car based on Mickey & Friends with Tasia Filippatos, President of Disney Consumer Products and Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1, posing with it.
"As we celebrate nearly a century of Mickey Mouse & Friends, our collaboration with Formula 1 offers a unique opportunity to bring two powerhouse entertainment properties together to create products that fans will love," Filippatos said. "This exciting collaboration will unfold across a global stage, with unforgettable content and experiences tailored for Disney and F1 fans alike."
Some may be surprised that F1 is reaching out to Disney for this partnership. However, the organization saw a big leadership shakeup as the earlier leaders famously refused to court a younger audience on the idea that they couldn't afford F1 merchandise/racing.
Now, F1 is recognizing the growing youth audience around the world and latching onto that. That includes skewing advertising to a younger crowd to get into F1.
Another change was the Netflix series Drive to Survive, which expanded F1's global reach. Netflix has been adding more shows, such as The Academy about female drivers, and plans for documentaries on various F1 stars.
So partnering up with Disney plays into F1's new mission of reaching a contemporary audience. At the moment, it sounds like it will be mostly for merchandise with Disney characters featured on F1 items and special custom cars. There might also be F1 shows and documentaries featured on Disney+ that can offset the Netflix offerings.
One has to wonder if there could be a presence at the parks. The idea of reworking the Tomorrowland Speedway or Autopia to F1 racing is a natural way to provide a better thrill for parkgoers. It'll also be interesting to see more F1 touches pushed in the parks such as specific merchandise for the drivers.
We still need more details as the partnership won't fully take effect until next year. But Disney partnering with the biggest racing group on the planet is something to get excited about and fans of both can start their engines for a big partnership coming!
Is F1 ready for a little Disney magic?