Twenty years after racing into theatres and into the hearts of fans around the world, Lightning McQueen swapped Radiator Springs for Monza, Italy.
Disney and Formula 1® brought the next chapter of their global collaboration to life at the Formula 1® Gran Premio d’Italia 2026, transforming one of motorsport’s most iconic race weekends into a celebration of Disney and Pixar’s Cars.
Following the recent announcement extending the Disney x Formula 1® collaboration through 2028 and marking the debut of Disney and Pixar’s Cars within the global programme, the race weekend celebrated the franchise’s 20th anniversary, coinciding with Lightning McQueen Day on 5 September.
Lightning McQueen made a special appearance, sporting an all-new look inspired by the Disney x Formula 1® collaboration. The seven-time Piston Cup champion completed an honorary lap during the event, creating a landmark crossover moment for Disney, Pixar and Formula 1® fans alike.
As part of the celebration, the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+, introduced earlier this season at the Hungarian Grand Prix 2026, received a bespoke Cars-inspired makeover created exclusively for race weekend.
Fans attending Monza also had the opportunity to shop the Disney and Pixar’s Cars x Formula 1® collection trackside throughout race weekend, which included apparel, accessories, collectibles, and die-cast vehicles from Mattel inspired by the world of Cars and Formula 1®. Select products from the collection are also available online at Disneystore.com and the Formula 1® Official Online Store.
The activation marks a milestone in the Disney x Formula 1® collaboration and the exciting opportunities still to come.