Lightning McQueen Makes F1 Debut at Monza for Cars’ twentieth Anniversary

Lightning McQueen is coming to Formula 1. Disney and F1 collectively introduced this week that the animated “Cars” character will seem at this weekend’s Italian Grand Prix at Monza, marking the twentieth anniversary of the unique 2006 Pixar movie.

A Lightning McQueen automobile will function an official observe automobile in the course of the race weekend, which runs Friday via Sunday, Sept. 4-6, in line with Formula 1’s official announcement. Separately, the Mercedes-AMG security automotive will carry a particular livery impressed by “Cars” for the weekend — a definite activation from McQueen’s personal look, confirmed by F1 as a companion factor fairly than the identical automobile.

The tie-in additionally features a Mattel activation recreating the movie’s fictional Radiator Springs, a particular screening of “Cars” in the course of the race weekend, and a brand new “Cars” x Formula 1 merchandise assortment obtainable via the Disney Store and F1’s official on-line retailer.

The collaboration builds on a Disney-F1 partnership that started in 2025, when characters together with Mickey Mouse appeared on the Las Vegas Grand Prix; the businesses have since prolonged that partnership via not less than 2028.