Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck are joining F1 Academy as the faces of Disney’s “Fuel the Magic” expansion into Formula 1’s all-female racing series, with exclusive merchandise, on-site character experiences, and original content set to debut this spring.
What Is the Disney x F1 Academy Collaboration? Disney announced on March 13, 2026, that it is expanding its multi-year “Fuel the Magic” partnership with Formula 1 to include F1 Academy, the all-women racing development series. Tasia Filippatos, President of Disney Consumer Products, made the announcement live at the South by Southwest conference in Austin, Texas, timed alongside the 2026 Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai.
The original “Fuel the Magic” partnership between Disney and Formula 1 was first announced in May 2025, positioning Mickey Mouse and Friends as racing superfans across the main F1 circuit. This latest move is a direct expansion of that relationship, shifting focus specifically to F1 Academy and placing Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck at the center of the campaign rather than the full ensemble. The two characters will serve as creative anchors for this chapter, with their bond representing the collaboration’s core theme of women supporting women.
What Fans Can Expect This Spring? Disney confirmed three pillars for the F1 Academy collaboration. First, a fashion-forward merchandise collection featuring Minnie and Daisy will roll out across select F1 Academy race weekends. Second, on-site character experiences will bring Minnie and Daisy directly to fans attending F1 Academy events throughout the season. Third, original digital content tied to the series will be produced to extend the collaboration beyond the track. Specific product details and event dates will be announced in the weeks ahead.
F1 Academy Managing Director Susie Wolff was photographed with Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck at Shanghai Disneyland ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, offering an early preview of the partnership in action. The 2026 class of F1 Academy drivers was also part of the announcement imagery, signaling that the real-world athletes will be woven into the collaboration alongside the Disney characters throughout the season.
The Story Behind the Partnership. F1 Academy launched in 2023 as Formula 1’s dedicated driver development series for female athletes, designed to build a direct pathway into higher levels of motorsport. The series has grown rapidly in commercial reach and fan following. Earlier this week, beauty retailer Sephora announced its own F1 Academy partnership for 2026 race weekend activations, reinforcing the momentum building around the series heading into the spring season.
Disney’s relationship with Formula 1 has been building steadily since the original partnership announcement. The “Fuel the Magic” kick-off spot generated the highest engagement Formula 1 has ever recorded around any of its partnership announcements, followed by a limited-edition capsule collection debut at the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The 2026 season launched that momentum across multiple fronts at once, including a brand new WEBTOON comic series, “Mickey x F1 Racing to the Top!”, a Gentle Monster eyewear collaboration with pop-ups in Seoul and Shanghai, a MINISO collectible capsule of 30-plus display-ready items, and a core apparel line designed by Global Creative Director Bobby Kim.
The F1 Academy expansion is the next natural step in that relationship. Disney and Susie Wolff have both pointed to the shared values between the Minnie and Daisy characters and the mission of F1 Academy, with the friendship dynamic at the heart of those two characters mapping directly to what the racing series stands for.
Why Minnie and Daisy Are the Right Characters for This Moment. The choice to lead the F1 Academy chapter with Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck rather than the full Mickey and Friends ensemble is a deliberate creative decision. Disney described the two characters as embodying confidence, individuality, and glamour in a way that aligns with F1 Academy’s identity as a platform for the next generation of female talent.
Filippatos noted that the original “Fuel the Magic” campaign sparked a cultural moment with fans worldwide,” and framed the F1 Academy expansion as “an exciting new chapter” driven by Minnie and Daisy’s story. Wolff added that the collaboration is “inspired by Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck’s friendship that embodies the power of women supporting women,” calling it a path to “inspire and empower future fans, drivers and leaders to shape the future of our sport.”
Emily Prazer, Chief Commercial Officer of Formula 1 and President and CEO of Las Vegas Grand Prix, described Disney as a storytelling powerhouse that “unites young and old generations alike, while celebrating individuality,” reinforcing why the partnership continues to grow across multiple parts of the Formula 1 ecosystem. Formula 1 now reaches an audience of 860 million people globally, and F1 Academy’s dedicated focus on female athletes makes it one of the sport’s fastest-growing properties for younger and more diverse audiences.
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