F1 brought Pixar to life at Italian GP in Monza with the official Safety Car getting a Lightning McQueen makeover. The Italian Grand Prix in Monza has seen the official Safety Car take on a special Lightning McQueen-inspired livery. The activation comes as the 20th anniversary of Disney and Pixar’s Cars approaches, with the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 PRO 4MATIC+ wearing a unique paint scheme. The 2026 Italian Grand Prix takes place on September 4-6.
The Safety Car will feature the Italian-themed message “Ka-Ciao!” on its rear bumper, a playful adaptation of McQueen’s famous “Ka-Chow!” catchphrase. Formula 1 and Disney announced, “Formula 1 & @Disney will celebrate 20 years of Disney and @Pixar’s Cars at the FORMULA 1 PIRELLI GRAN PREMIO D’ITALIA 2026 with a special @MercedesAMG Safety Car activation. The Official FIA Formula 1 Safety Car will feature a bespoke Cars-inspired livery, whilst the iconic…”
Lightning McQueen himself will also make a special appearance at Monza, with the seven-time Piston Cup champion set to complete a lap of honour on September 5 for ‘Lightning McQueen Day’. The celebration is part of F1 and Disney’s extended partnership, which covers until 2028 and includes Cars-themed fan experiences, merchandise and collectibles.
“They’re very different to drive”: Liam Lawson reveals Red Bull’s biggest challenge ahead of Italian Grand Prix
Liam Lawson will again have to carry the weight of the Red Bull team after the injury of Isack Hadjar Liam Lawson was informed on Wednesday that he would work with the first team so he did not have much time to prepare for the specificities of the RB22. He admitted that working between Red Bull and Racing Bulls machinery has been the biggest challenge, given the significant differences between the two cars.
“Both, honestly. I’ve been doing both, just to try and stay ready for both. Obviously, both teams, both cars to know,” Lawson explained. He added, “They’re very different to drive, so it’s not the easiest thing going between the two, even just in the simulator, but that’s been the biggest challenge. But it’s nice to finally have an answer, from Wednesday, to know that I can basically just put all my focus onto this car.”
Lawson also made mention of the difficulty the Red Bull is to drive, touching upon various differences in steering response, feel and movement. Following on from his seventh place at Zandvoort, the task will be to capitalize on another chance alongside Max Verstappen at fast Monza.
