Move over, Leclerc! Mickey Mouse is in the driver’s seat now.
In a surprising collaboration, South Korean luxury sunglasses brand Gentle Monster teams up with Disney’s Mickey and Friends to welcome the F1 2026 season, which kicks off the Australian Grand Prix this weekend. Presenting the 2026 Circuit Collection, Gentle Monster presents three designs inspired by the cartoon mouse, including a racing wrap-around design, available in bright yellow and shiny silver, as well as a statement piece inspired by the front wings and air ducts of racing cars. On these fashion-forward sunglasses, Gentle Monster’s logo is plastered on the temples and ridges–just like the trademark vinyl lettering on cars. And in keeping with tradition, there are Hidden Mickeys– the three-circle silhouette representations of the beloved anthropomorphic mouse–placed discreetly on the frames as well.
In a special campaign video, Disney’s beloved characters, including Goofy, Minnie Mouse, and Pluto, appear on the F1 grid, all cheering on Gentle Monster’s aerodynamic sunglasses as it speeds down the track with explosive energy and crosses the finishing line; Mickey Mouse waves the chequered flag. Gentle Monster leans into this surreal and unconventional universe which began with F1 and Disney’s “Fuel the Magic” collaboration, first introduced at the 2025 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix .
As expected, the brand is also planning two in-person pop-up experiences–one in Seoul and one in Shanghai–in conjunction with the launch. Fans can expect F1 cars parked in the vicinity. We also know from sources on the ground that a larger-than-life Mickey Mouse statue has been erected outside Haus Nowhere Seoul, joining Gentle Monster’s iconic animatronic figures, namely its giant breathing dachshund.
