Ferrari might have abandoned F1 a year ahead of schedule, but don't worry: we're not talking about the single-seaters but rather the bubbly that had to terminate (with a congruous penalty in their favor) its contract with Liberty Media, thus making way for Moet & Chandon.
This is just one of the contracts with mainstream partners that the top formula has captured in recent times. And while there are rumors of the entry of the Nestlè group, to which several brands in the food field belong, such as San Pellegrino, Perrier, Perugina, with the Kit Kat brand that apparently will produce chocolates shaped like single-seaters at the Perugina factories in Umbria, comes the officialization of the signing with Disney.
Formula 1 and Disney have in fact announced a new collaboration dedicated to Disney's Mickey & Friends that will kick off in 2026.
Mickey Mouse is one of the best-known and best-loved Disney characters of all time, and now fans will have the chance to see him in the company of his friends in the high-speed universe of Formula 1 through new content, experiences and products around the world.
This new collaboration turbocharges the two brands' shared flair for creativity, entertainment and innovation to unite fans around the world through unique and unforgettable experiences. More information about the activity will be revealed in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Tasia Filippatos, Disney Consumer Products President, said, "As we celebrate nearly a century of Mickey & Friends, our collaboration with Formula 1 offers a unique opportunity to bring two powerhouse entertainment properties together to create products that fans will love. This exciting collaboration will unfold across a global stage with unforgettable content and experiences tailored for Disney and F1 fans alike."
With presumably great happiness Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer, Formula 1, added, "Our collaboration with Disney is set to be a brilliant one, as we introduce the world of Mickey & Friends to our fans and vice versa. It fits perfectly with our strategy to step outside the world of sport and into a broader consumer market, and in return we're introducing Disney to our 820 million fans worldwide. It's a fantastic match as both brands are known for pushing boundaries and bringing excitement and entertainment to millions, so I can't wait to see what our teams come up with for the circuit and beyond."
Formula 1 has seen tremendous growth among younger fans in recent years, and data show that more than four million children between the ages of 8 and 12 are actively following the sport in the European Union and the United States, while 54 percent of followers on TikTok and 40 percent on Instagram are under the age of 25.
More details on how fans can join Mickey and his friends on their Formula 1 adventure will be revealed in the coming months. To stay up-to-date on the adventures of these iconic characters in the fast lane in 2026, you can follow the @mickeymouse and @f1 social pages.
And in the meantime, what is our MotoGP doing? Are there some big sponsors coming on the horizon and Dorna and FIM are not telling us to keep us on our toes? We're afraid not, and that's a real shame because as far as entertainment is concerned, the premier class of motorcycle racing, but also the two cadet classes Moto3 and Moto2 fear no comparison.
Perhaps the two-wheelers are less glamorous, but unlike F1 our races do sell motorcycles, while we fear F1 is extremely effective in promoting brands, but we have no figures to comfort us about the sale of motor vehicles.
Pictured: Tasia Filippatos, President of Disney Consumer Products, Mickey Mouse, Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1, and former Formula 1 driver Romain Grosjean pose with a Disney x F1 race car at the Grand Prix Plaza in Las Vegas on May 19 to celebrate the official announcement of the partnership (photo by Tony Rodriguez).