2025 Formula One Thread: Zak Brown did it! Lando Champ

Coming in 2026, Formula 1 will collaborate with Disney’s iconic Mickey & Friends brand.

Few characters are as universally recognized as Mickey Mouse, which signals that this will be a deeply rooted partnership.

Formula 1 and Disney introduce collaboration for F1 2026
Everywhere you look, Formula 1 is making inroads with beloved brands and companies around the world. Fans delighted by life-size LEGO Formula 1 cars or Snoopy-themed merchandise, then, will be equally charmed by a new partnership taking shape in 2026 between F1 and Disney.

Specifically, F1 will be collaborating with Disney’s Mickey & Friends for what F1 describes as “one-of-a-kind experiences, content, and merchandise around the globe.”

Our collaboration with Disney is set to be a brilliant one, as we introduce the world of Mickey & Friends to our fans, and vice versa,” Emily Prazer, chief commercial officer of Formula 1, said in a press release.

“It fits perfectly with our strategy to step outside the world of sport, and into a broader consumer market, and in return we’re introducing Disney to our 820 million fans worldwide.

“It’s a fantastic match as both brands are known for pushing boundaries and bringing entertainment and excitement to millions, so I can’t wait to see what our teams come up with for the circuit and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Tasia Filippatos, president of Disney’s consumer products, said, “As we celebrate nearly a century of Mickey Mouse & Friends, our collaboration with Formula 1 offers a unique opportunity to bring two powerhouse entertainment properties together to create products that fans will love.

“This exciting collaboration will unfold across a global stage, with unforgettable content and experiences tailored for Disney and F1 fans alike.”

With Formula 1’s growing presence in the United States and around the world, these fan-friendly collaborations with brands like Disney will continue to introduce the sport to fresh audiences.

 

"and in return we’re introducing Disney to our 820 million fans worldwide."
yes i'm sure a majority of F1 fans are unaware of Disney's existence.

 

i think it is meant to be read the other way around, basically saying they are offering a new route to 820mln people to disney

 

Oh, so that’s why he was so bitchy on the radio in Miami. He was looking silly in front of his new girl.

 

Post is 10 days old from a very small account and I haven't seen anyone else reporting that.

 

Her?

 

So much for Shakira

 

Anyone done a non-US race with young kids? My 3 year old is into F1 and we're looking at options.

 

My 5 y/o was really liking watching f1 and IndyCar on TV with me. Went to Friday at Iowa Speedway for IndyCar last year. 30 minutes in the garages seeing cars, a picture next to Myles Rowe’s 99 car
(his favorite number), and a few minutes of cars on track, and he was ready to leave. I knew he wasn’t up for a weekend, but I was surprised it was under an hour.
Moral of the story: take them to anything local you can find as a test run before committing to an international F1 trip.

 

Isn't she with Jimmy Butler?

 

Don't think so?

 

I'm guessing some of you were into F1 before DTS. Does this seem accurate to you?

I’ve been to two Formula 1 races.

Both times, I felt the same rush: the electric energy of the crowd, the roar of the engines, the almost physical jolt as the cars flew by.

It’s not like other sports.

You don’t just watch an F1 race — you feel it. The precision, the chaos, the sheer speed. It’s a spectacle that hits every sense.

I remember standing at the track and feeling goosebumps as the drivers zipped past. That gut punch of sound. The heat from the asphalt. The tension as people held their breath at every turn.

It felt cinematic. Like I had stepped into something elite, global, fast-paced, and totally worth the hype.

Formula 1 exploded in popularity in the U.S. thanks to Netflix’s "Drive to Survive." It was a marketing dream: new audiences, fresh buzz, and sponsorship deals lining up fast.

But the buzz may be wearing off. And the numbers show F1’s U.S. takeover may already be losing steam.
Formula 1 may be losing speed in America
After hitting record highs in 2022, F1's U.S. viewership slipped in 2023 — averaging 1.11 million viewers per race, an 8% decline from the year before, according to Sportcal. It was still the second-most-watched season ever, but the drop marks a clear shift in momentum.

And while the 2024 Miami Grand Prix hit a record 3.07 million viewers thanks to an NBA Game 7 lead-in, viewership plummeted to 2.17 million in 2025 — a steep 30% drop, per Reuters.

Even online, race weekends feel quieter. The once-viral excitement has dulled.

With how insanely expensive it’s become to attend a race, what once felt like an attainable dream experience now feels completely out of reach.

F1’s $500 million gamble on the Las Vegas Grand Prix, its boldest U.S. race yet, sparked more backlash than buzz. Fans complained of blocked views, insanely priced tickets, and chaotic logistics. Some even filed lawsuits after getting kicked out early.

The magic is still there, but if F1 can’t win back American fans, its U.S. dream could stall out fast.

F1 may have misunderstood the American fan
Formula 1’s U.S. expansion was supposed to be a long-term play. The idea was simple: hook a new generation of fans through Netflix, then keep them engaged with immersive, ultra-premium experiences.

But while the sport thrives globally, its attempt to sell exclusivity in a market that loves access may have backfired.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix went all-in on glitz with luxury suites, celebrity sightings, and bottle service priced at $11,000+. But for many American fans, the vibe felt more exclusive than exciting.

The backlash suggests F1 may have overestimated how much U.S. audiences value spectacle over substance.

With NASCAR and IndyCar offering more fan-friendly experiences at a fraction of the cost, F1 will need to adapt. American fans want the adrenaline, but they also want a reason to keep tuning in.

If the hype train has left the station, F1 will have to find a new way to keep Americans on board.

If F1 doesn’t shift gears soon, its U.S. moment might end before it ever really got going.[/spoiler]

 

eh i don't think its that dire.

 

Americans love parades so this weekend's race should get good ratings.

 

Vegas will end up being a bust but Miami and COTA will be fine.

Viewership was always destined to fall off the 2022 highs but I am sure that Liberty is pleased with the audience growth they have retained. F1 needs a competent challenger to Max and a real WDC battle into the fall to engage the American audience. Fortunately for F1 they are in the business of manufacturing such things so I expect we will get one this year unless the McLaren turns into a tractor post Spain.

 

There are a lot of examples of the crazy reaction times of F1 drivers, but the Hadjar clip from F2 at Monaco last year may be the most insane:

 

Yeah, you don’t go to a race to watch it all happen. It’s logically impossible at most places.
Even cheap race admission or increased access wouldn’t solve their problem, though. Their big problem is that the majority of auto racing fans in America are of a demographic that is extremely resistant to new or different things in general. That’s been ratcheting up lately with the political climate. Then, the majority of people who are open to things like international soccer are largely turned off to Motorsports in general because the American version is mostly a gross hillbilly product.

 

Good lord, should Miyata not have stayed left?

 

I don't buy that at all. NASCAR has been trending down for well over a decade, if anything their popularity should be rising due to the political climate.

 

I’m not saying nascar is on the rise, but the general mindset of many people who are traditionally race fans in America is becoming more closed off and even openly hostile to foreign or different things in general. The vocal minority (I assume) is all about nascar sucks because of the new technology, went woke, abandoned its roots, blah blah whatever. Ultimately, I don’t think the US a prime market in which to grow F1 right now. Even the pushback from nascar fans I see on Kyle Larson doing the Indy 500 is growing. And that’s an high profile oval race in an established domestic series.

 

can someone summarize? i love the race for what it is but find myself zoning out after 1 minute of these dudes talking every video i click on.

 

The change in cars has made Nascar super boring to watch. It started going downhill shortly after their Jordan died on track. His son was super popular for a while but faded when it was clear he wasn't his dad and could only win on one type of track.

 

and they put more boring tracks on the schedule, coupled with all the other missteps and it's boring shit now.

 

Yea it feels like almost all of the tracks are follow the leader until the last lap or super spread out after 1 lap and no racing happening. Really boring to watch.

 

Makes sense to me now. I think the hardcores who are likely aligned politically as you mentioned are going to watch NASCAR no matter what. I still think there is plenty of room for growth for F1 and other series in the US aside from NASCAR. Their new viewers aren't going to be NASCAR converts.

 

Lmao nascar died with dale is some bullshit and we all know it. Stop.

 

nascar died when they stopped letting you smoke in the car

 

I don't think anyone said it died but it certainly went downhill shortly after that. He wasn't the only factor and nobody said he was. Peak Nascar was late 90s and early 2000's.

 

Car of tomorrow and expanding to shitty tracks in place of classics killed nascar. Then every decision made after that coupled with some other things made it worse. I switched over to F1 full time

 

Cart was killed and irl was created because of xenophobia. Too many foreigners winning at Indy… racing in America has always been a close minded sport.

 

Couldn’t figure out as a kid why you’d only want to do oval tracks with Indy vs Cart

Spoiler

still can’t

 

Same

 

Expanding to shitty tracks in place of classics sure sounds familiar

 

Ah, so you’re a Monaco fan.

 

Spa going into a rotation has me quite unhappy

 

But also yes I do like Monaco as being a different one off. The size of the cars is the problem at Monaco more than the track

 

I watched the kimi thing on Netflix. It was basically kimi’s dad was an asshole to him, kimi eats lasagna, kimi drives a kart, Toto verbally fellates kimi on a zoom.

 

45 min ad for WhatsApp. As a user, quite irritating having that on in background and checking my phone nonstop to see if someone messaged me.

 

Americans: shiiit, I’d rather have a Ranger and a hellcat

 

Oh yeah I totally tuned out the totally 100% real text messages. I did like how they closed it with a WhatsApp ad

 

F1 is going to be pissed about the drivers shitting on the movie. The below from Carlos and then Kimi gave a half hearted version of "it was long but enterataining"


Charles knew how to play the game a little better
"It's very nice to see Brad Pitt's film. It's very Hollywood-style, but that's normal because it's made for a wide audience. Incredible scenes, surprising shots and angles. It's fantastic for F1."

 

It’s their own fault for asking the literal experts to publicly review a Hollywood dramatization of their daily lives and work. That would happen for any subject.

 

giving neil degrasse tyson watching star wars vibes.

 

Ndt should have been shoved in more lockers as a kid