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Disney and Pixar's 'Cars' races into 20th anniversary with an F1 partnership and enduring legacy. ByMegan duBois, Contributor. Megan duBois is a reporter who covers The Walt Disney Company. Sep 05, 2026, 03:30am EDT Summary. Disney and Formula 1 are deepening their "Fuel the Magic" partnership by integrating Pixar's *Cars* franchise, starting at the 2026 Italian Grand Prix. This collaboration leverages *Cars*' 20-year legacy of introducing racing to multi-generational audiences, making it a natural fit for F1's expanding global fanbase, particularly among younger viewers in the US. Lightning McQueen will feature prominently, headlining new co-branded merchandise and experiences. This strategic move capitalizes on *Cars*' immense popularity, evidenced by billions of watch hours and billions in merchandise sales, further cementing its role in celebrating racing culture and engaging new generations. When Disney and Formula 1 announced an extension of their popular Fuel the Magic collaboration in August 2026, it was also announced that the popular Disney and Pixar Cars franchise would be entering the circuit for the first time. The Cars collection and experiences at Formula 1 Gran Premio d'Italia 2026 in Monza may be Disney and Formula 1's most natural collaborations yet. Not only will Lightning McQueen make an appearance at the race, he'll be the star of a co-branded Car merchandise collection. But a new character entering the grid is about a lot more than just slapping one of Pixar's most recognizable figures onto a co-branded T-shirt. What began as Mickey and Friends branded merchandise at races and online, plus trackside activations at select events, has turned into a creative flurry where both Disney and Formula 1 fans can easily enter and experience both ecosystems. Then you add in Cars, a franchise that already speaks to racing fans around the world, and you've got the green flag for a successful collaboration. "For 20 years, Cars has introduced generations of kids and families to the world of racing through Lightning McQueen's journey, making the franchise uniquely positioned to connect with fans of the sport. As Formula 1 continues to capture the attention of audiences around the world, bringing these two iconic racing brands together is a natural fit. Through experiences, content and product collaborations with partners like Mattel, we're creating new ways for fans to celebrate the world of Cars," Paul Gitter, Executive Vice President of Global Brand Commercialization at Disney Consumer Products, tells me. The multi-generational charm of 'Cars' Today, the Cars franchise is multi-generational. Parents who watched Cars as kids now potentially have children of their own, continuing to build Lightning McQueen's fanbase through movies and TV shows like a recently announced Disney Jr. series, Cars: Lightning Racers. There's also the upcoming Cars-themed land, Piston Peak National Park, coming to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom and of course, the Cars-branded partnership with Formula 1. "On the surface, Cars is about the thrill of high-speed racing, the flashing lights, roaring crowds, and fierce competition. But at its heart, it's a story about personal growth, resilience and the power of teamwork. For the past 20 years, those themes have connected audiences of all ages to the world of racing in a way that is both exciting and deeply relatable. That's why this collaboration with Formula 1 feels so natural," Jim Morris, President of Pixar Animation Studios tells me. The numbers surrounding the Cars franchise's popularity don't lie either. Lightning McQueen is ranked number one among Pixar characters for boys ages 3 to 13. Cars content has generated more than 2 billion hours of watch time globally. Even more recently, Disney's announcement that Cars would be heading to Monza as the next character collaboration with Formula 1 garnered 1 million likes and 16.1 million views on Instagram, showcasing the franchise's enduring power. Forbes Daily: Join over 1 million Forbes Daily subscribers and get its best stories, exclusive reporting and essential analysis of the day's news in your inbox every weekday. What makes this even more interesting is that even though Cars is a fictional world based around American stock cars, Formula 1 data shows that the United States is one of its most progressive markets, with massive fan growth, specifically with younger audiences who are exposed to the sport via digital platforms. Cars planted the seed of motorsports culture, and now Disney is capitalizing on that with its Formula 1 partnership. "Being at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, you can feel firsthand the incredible energy that surrounds the sport. While the drivers may be in the spotlight, every moment on the track is made possible by the teamwork, dedication and expertise happening behind the scenes. At their core, Cars and Formula 1 share the same values: the importance of community, perseverance and striving for excellence together. Bringing these worlds together is a meaningful way to celebrate the culture of racing while introducing a new generation of fans to what makes the sport so special," Morris continues. Beyond the starting grid to store shelves. When the original Cars film was released 20 years ago, it debuted at number one at the weekend box office, earning about $62.8 million in the United States. During its first theatrical release, it made around $462 million worldwide. The film is set for a theatrical re-release this weekend. Fans of the film are in good company too. In 2024, current Formula 1 driver Liam Lawson said Cars was one of his favorite movies. In 2011, Disney said merchandise tied to the Cars franchise generated more than $8 billion in global retail sales. Today the merchandise licensing deals span generations and styles, ranging from LEGO Speed Champions set and battery powered Lightning McQueen cars for kids and nostalgic adults to Loungefly mini backpacks that are popular in the Disney theme parks and an upcoming Crocs launch themed to the fictional Dinoco oil and gas company from the Cars movies. Since 2016, more than 144 million Cars products have been sold in the United States, equaling nearly 44,000 branded items sold every day. Nearly 20 years after the first Cars movie release, Lightning McQueen is more popular than ever, and Disney's continued expansion within the Cars universe proves that number 95 is here to stay. 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Official: Milan to become F1 capital for three-day F1 Live Milan event in February 2027. Formula 1 will turn the spotlight on Milan from 18 to 20 February 2027 with **F1 Live Milan**, a major new three-day event that will place the Italian city at the heart of the sport shortly before the start of the new Formula 1 season. The initiative follows the concept recently outlined by Formula 1 President and CEO Stefano Domenicali at Monza, when he spoke about creating an Italian "Formula One Week" capable of focusing the attention of the F1 world on Milan during a period of the year traditionally far removed from Grand Prix racing. The first major part of that project will be a three-day event building on the legacy of **F1 75 Live**, the spectacular season launch staged at London's O2 Arena in February 2025. That event was broadcast in 37 countries and attracted a live audience of 7.5 million viewers. Formula 1 now intends to go further in Milan, creating a broader format with a much greater emphasis on direct interaction between the sport and its fans. F1 Live Milan will feature two separate programmes. F1 Live Milan will be divided into two main programmes. From 18 to 20 February, the city will host the **Milan Fan Festival**, while the opening evening on Thursday, 18 February will feature **F1 The Show**. The latter will bring together the drivers and team principals from all 11 teams competing in the 2027 Formula 1 World Championship. The evening will combine appearances from Formula 1's leading figures with music and entertainment, taking the concept introduced in London two years earlier and expanding it into a larger event. The exact venue has not yet been announced, although Formula 1 has revealed that an **"iconic location" in Milan** will be selected and transformed into a space entirely dedicated to Formula 1 for three days. A detailed schedule for the Milan Fan Festival and the full running order for F1 The Show will be announced over the coming months. Tickets are expected to go on sale before the end of the year, while fans will also have the opportunity to pre-register. Stefano Domenicali wants fans completely immersed in Formula 1. Formula 1's objective is to make the Milan event much more than a conventional presentation of the new season. "We always think big and push the boundaries," Stefano Domenicali explained. "F1 Live Milan will be an incredible experience, created with our fans in mind. We want them not just to watch the sport, but to be completely immersed in it. It is an important part of our continued ambition to bring Formula 1 closer to the fans than ever before, giving them the opportunity to see their heroes up close." The choice of Milan is far from accidental. After holding F1 75 Live in London, Formula 1 has chosen a city in a country with one of the deepest connections to the World Championship and located only a short distance from Monza, home of the Italian Grand Prix. There is also a clear desire to take advantage of Milan's international reputation. The city is recognised globally as one of the major centres of fashion, design and creativity, providing Formula 1 with a platform extending well beyond traditional motorsport audiences. The idea of a Formula One Week in Milan. That wider potential was precisely what Stefano Domenicali had highlighted at Monza when explaining his longer-term vision for the project. "Our country is famous for Fashion Week and all the other 'weeks'," he said. "And I believe that, during a period when Formula 1 is normally not being discussed, we need to provide something that I would like to define as Formula One Week, which we want to organise in Milan." The project is designed to involve far more than Formula 1 fans. Stefano Domenicali confirmed that the objective is also to bring international media, team partners, Formula 1 sponsors and representatives from the wider business world to Milan: "The teams will involve their partners and we will involve all Formula 1's partners," he explained. "It will be a week during which, in a period that is normally quiet, Formula 1 will be talked about in Italy." F1 Live Milan to help launch the 2027 Formula 1 season. The timing also gives the event particular significance. F1 Live Milan will take place shortly before the beginning of the 2027 Formula 1 World Championship, effectively turning the event into a major public opening for the new season. For fans unable to travel to Milan, Formula 1 also plans to distribute coverage of the event through several channels. Further details regarding those broadcasts and platforms will be announced at a later date. "Racing will always be our soul," Stefano Domenicali concluded, "but we also want to create unforgettable experiences that bring the excitement of Formula 1 to life on an even greater scale. I know my fellow Italians will give a fantastic welcome to the fans coming to F1 Live Milan and I cannot wait to see the city come alive with the energy of Formula 1." Following the success of the London experiment, Formula 1 is therefore significantly increasing the scale of its pre-season showcase. Rather than concentrating everything into a single presentation evening, the sport will take over Milan for three days, combining the traditional season-launch concept with a fan festival, entertainment and direct access to the personalities at the centre of Formula 1. And with every 2027 team represented only weeks before the championship gets under way, Milan is set to become the temporary capital of the Formula 1 world from **18 to 20 February 2027**.

Kayo sports and MotoGP(TM) lock into new long-term agreement as competition enters new era. Posted on Thu Sept 3, 2026 7:00pm AEST Kayo SPORTS will remain the home of every race of the MotoGP(TM) Championship following a multi-year extension with the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, ensuring Australian motorsport fans can enjoy every moment of the world's premier motorcycle racing championship live and in High Definition. Under the agreement, which commences in 2027, DAZN's Kayo SPORTS and FOXTEL will remain the only place in Australia to watch every MotoGP(TM) qualifying, practice and race live and ad-break free during racing. Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany said: "With world-class racing and a championship battle going down to the wire, MotoGP(TM) has never been more thrilling. And there's plenty more to come, with 2027 marking a significant new chapter for the sport, including major regulation changes, four of the five current champions changing manufacturers, and a new home for the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide. "2027 marks 30 years as broadcast partner for the MotoGP(TM), representing three decades of supporting and growing alongside the sport. With this renewed deal, Kayo SPORTS subscribers will have a front row seat to all the upcoming action as we continue to bring Australian viewers every race, every battle and every moment live for years to come, alongside our hugely successful MotorRacing 360 show." Carlos Ezpeleta, Deputy CEO, MotoGP(TM) Sports Entertainment Group, said: "Australia has always been one of MotoGP's most passionate markets, and Foxtel Group is delighted to extend its partnership with DAZN's Kayo SPORTS and FOXTEL, ensuring fans continue to have access to every session, every race and every unforgettable moment of the championship. "This new agreement further extends what is the longest broadcast partnership in MotoGP's history, underlining both the strength of our relationship and the enduring passion of Australian fans for the sport." "As MotoGP prepares to enter an exciting new era from 2027, with new technical regulations, evolving competition and a new home for the Australian Grand Prix in Adelaide, it is more important than ever to work with partners who share our commitment to delivering the highest quality coverage and fan experience. We look forward to continuing to grow MotoGP's audience in Australia together, bringing fans even closer to the riders, teams and stories that make this sport so unique." The extension of the MotoGP(TM) agreement follows Kayo SPORTS and FOXTEL renewing their agreements with Formula 1 and Supercars, cementing their position as the home of motorsport in Australia and the only place to watch every race from the world's leading motorsport championships. Foxtel Group's Executive Director - Commercial, Sport Adam Howarth said: "Motorsport is firmly part of Australia's tier-one sporting landscape, alongside the AFL, NRL and cricket, and Kayo SPORTS is the place fans can watch it all. From Formula 1 and MotoGP(TM) to Supercars and Australia's biggest sporting competitions, Kayo SPORTS brings the very best of more than 50 live sports together in one place. DAZN holds MotoGP(TM) rights in Spain and Portugal, and this extension reflects not only our strong support for MotoGP(TM), but also DAZN's role as a global partner in growth for this awesome sport." The 2026 MotoGP(TM) Championship continues on Friday September 11 for the Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera, with the final MotoGP(TM) on Phillip Island, Australia starting on Friday October 23. Every practice, qualifying and race is live and ad-break free during racing on Kayo SPORTS and FOXTEL. For a full list of 'Breakfast on BINGE' and DAZN Media+ Upfront announcements, head here. Download imagery from the 'Breakfast on BINGE' here. Download imagery from the DAZN Media+ Upfront here.