Disney is bringing Minnie Mouse to F1 Academy — and it's more than a photo op
What the Disney x F1 Academy partnership really signals about where women's motorsport is heading.
Formula 1 welcomed Mickey Mouse to the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, with the iconic character dancing in front of the Bellagio Fountains before a flurry of fireworks lit up the skies. Now, following the thrills of the Shanghai Grand Prix and the exhilarating start of the 2026 F1 Academy season, Disney has announced the extension of the ‘Fuel the Magic’ campaign.
The entertainment conglomerate has expanded its partnership with F1 to include F1 Academy, set to premiere later this Spring. The project will bring the classically beloved Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck into the series to promote the representation of women-led partnerships and encourage young girls to pursue new passions in motorsports. Exclusive merchandise, character experiences and new original content will also be unveiled, offering an exciting gateway into the world of racing.
Managing director of F1 Academy Susie Wolff has commented,
“By bringing together two worlds united by creativity, ambition, and a belief in what’s possible, we’re building pathways that inspire and empower future fans, drivers and leaders to shape the future of our sport.”
Disney’s decision to deepen its involvement in motorsports comes as F1 Academy enters its fourth year, announced just shortly after a new partnership with Sephora. Sharing the same goals of increasing visibility and boosting confidence, these initiatives present the growth of women’s motorsports and the series’ rising popularity.
When F1 Academy first launched in 2023, it offered a launchpad for women to compete in a male-dominated sport, despite previous challenges with Formula Woman and the W Series. Since then, F1 Academy has expanded in both scale and reach to showcase incredible talent and unique stories. Innovations such as bringing in Wild Card drivers for specific weekends have created a truly global community, opening further opportunities to break into racing and captivate audiences worldwide.
Additionally, the involvement of major sponsors - including all F1 teams to fund cars and drivers - demonstrates a newfound commitment to greater diversity and a dedication to the growth of women in motorsports. This level of support was lacking in F1 Academy’s predecessors, resulting in limited opportunities and their eventual closure.
Disney and F1 Academy’s collaboration also indicates a wider shift in the way motorsports are embracing new tech in sports media. The introduction of interactive digital content and the wide adoption of social media indicate that sports are moving past traditional broadcast models that separate athletes and fans. This enables audiences to step directly into the action through immersive experiences, fostering deeper engagement and connection.
The success of Formula 1’s own media strategy, with the release of Netflix’s Drive to Survive, led to an impressive boom in global viewership. The show revealed a behind-the-scenes look into drivers’ lives and team dynamics to captivate a new generation of fans - an approach that F1 Academy now hopes to replicate. The debut of their own Netflix series, F1: The Academy, last year displayed the inner workings of the sport, alongside the efforts made to bring women back to the F1 grid.
F1 Academy’s partnership with Disney aims to promote women’s stories and provide an accessible platform for young girls to hear the inspirational narratives of female drivers. Chief commercial officer for F1, Emily Prazer, said,
“Disney is a global storytelling powerhouse that unites young and old generations alike, while celebrating individuality. It’s therefore a natural step as part of our collaboration for it to support F1 Academy, a series that champions women, encourages them to get involved in our sport and ultimately thrive. It marks another momentous step in how we continue to build impactful integrations that not only deliver enormous fan engagement, but underline the values of our wider sport.”
More information about Disney and F1 Academy’s partnership is expected to be released in the coming months, but the collaboration has already set out clear goals. The two organisations hope to engage new audiences and increase female participation in motorsports, delving into creative storytelling and fan-driven campaigns to support women and girls in the years to come.
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Love this article. It really highlights how F1 Academy is making an impact, not just on the track, but by empowering women and giving the next generation more visibility and inspiration. It’s exciting to see women’s motorsport gaining more presence in media and culture in ways that feel meaningful.