Lightning McQueen has taken a weekend trip away from Radiator Springs for a stint at Monza, Italy, where his Formula 1 debut generated a massive online response and delighted several drivers who grew up watching Disney and Pixar’s Cars.
Lightning McQueen at Gran Premio d’Italia
The life-size Lightning McQueen joined the Formula 1 paddock during the 2026 Gran Premio d’Italia, held September 4-6 at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza. The appearance celebrated the 20th anniversary of the original Cars, released in 2006.
As previously announced, McQueen was invited by his Cars 2 rival Francesco Bernoulli and designated as an official track vehicle for the weekend. He received an updated look for the occasion inspired by the Disney and Formula 1 collaboration.
McQueen shared the grid with Formula 1’s 22 drivers before completing an honorary lap under his own power ahead of Sunday’s 53-lap Italian Grand Prix.
The Official FIA Formula 1 Safety Car also received a Cars-inspired makeover. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ featured Lightning McQueen’s eyes across the windshield and other themed graphics created exclusively for Monza.
Formula 1 Drivers Meet Lightning McQueen
According to ESPN, the Instagram post announcing McQueen’s paddock appearance received more than 1.8 million likes.
Several drivers on the current Formula 1 grid grew up watching Cars, including championship leader Kimi Antonelli, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson. Lawson has frequently described Lightning McQueen as his “childhood hero.”
Lawson visited McQueen in the paddock and posed with the character while holding a real-life Piston Cup. Antonelli received his own Italian-themed surprise: an approximately two-meter-long model of Francesco Bernoulli, Lightning’s open-wheel racing rival introduced in Cars 2.
Cars Creative Director Discusses the Crossover
Jay Ward, creative director of the Cars franchise, traveled to Monza to oversee McQueen’s appearance. Ward is a lifelong automotive enthusiast and has followed Formula 1 closely since attending the 2009 Monaco Grand Prix while researching Cars 2.
“Lightning McQueen is a character who happens to be a car, not the other way around,” Ward told ESPN.
Ward explained that children recognize McQueen as a character and racer rather than simply a red car. Placing him on the grid at one of Formula 1’s most famous circuits adds authenticity to that identity.
The Monza activation is part of “Fuel the Magic,” Disney’s ongoing collaboration with Formula 1. The partnership was recently extended through 2028, with Cars joining the global program for the first time. The strong response has already left Ward considering where to take the franchise from here.
“The beautiful thing is people get it and they’re enjoying it and they’re loving it. So now we can kind of take a breath and go, this is cool, but what can we do next?
Select Formula 1 x Disney items are also available online at Disney Store and the Formula 1 Official Online Store.
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