Chocolate cars, diamond heists, and Star Wars – 12 of F1’s quirkiest collaborations

Formula 1 has always been about more than just what happens on track. Over the years, the sport has collided with pop culture, fashion, film, music, and just about everything in between – producing some of the most creative, bizarre and brilliant partnerships that sport has ever seen.

And with Monaco being the perfect place for some of the best collaborations to come to life, there’s no better time to dive into the archives than before we race in the Principality. From superhero moments to giant chocolate cars, heist chaos to Swedish pop sensations – here are 12 of the quirkiest crossovers in F1 history...

Jaguar x Ocean’s Twelve

A heist film and an F1 team are certainly an unlikely pairing, but at Monaco in 2004 it produced one of the most memorable – and chaotic – moments in F1 history.

To promote the release of Ocean’s Twelve, the film teamed up with Jaguar with plans of an epic weekend in Monaco – with the likes of George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon all heading to the Principality. Jaguar went big with their plans, as not only did they display a special livery for the race but also mounted a Steinmetz diamond worth over $250,000 on the nose cones of their cars.

But plans went astray when, on the opening lap of the race, Christian Klien crashed into the barriers at the hairpin – and the diamond vanished. To this day, the diamond has never been recovered – which might have made for pretty good movie promo!

Red Bull x Superman

There was another classic Monaco collab in 2006 thanks to the stunt masters Red Bull. To help promote the release of Superman Returns, the RB2s featured a special blue and red Superman colour scheme, replacing the standard engine cover imagery with a prominent Superman "S" shield.

David Coulthard and Klien also wore matching Superman race suits for the livery unveiling, and the whole thing turned out to be quite the omen. Starting ninth on the grid, Coulthard had a stellar race to finish on the podium on third – the team’s first podium that season, stepping onto the rostrum complete with a Superman cape!

Red Bull x Crocs

From superheroes and action movies to Crocs – Red Bull’s collaboration might not be the most obvious pairing... but the collection they’ve produced together is hard not to love.

The limited-edition clog is complete with a rear-wing heel, halo detail and aerodynamic lines running through the body – they're itching to be put in sport mode! Essentially, you can now wear their F1 car on your feet – any F1 lover’s dream. We’ll be sure to keep a close eye on Max Verstappen’s and Isack Hadjar’s footwear around the paddock from now on...

F1 x LEGO

The F1 x LEGO partnership has provided plenty of amusement for fans over the years, with countless replica car sets that test the engineering skills of even some of the team's top staff.

But one of the highlights of this pairing came courtesy of the Miami Grand Prix in 2025 where, for the Drivers’ Parade, the grid took to the circuit in life-sized, fully driveable LEGO cars. Each car was built from nearly 400,000 bricks, weighing 1500kg, and reached speeds of up to 20kph (12mph) – they were works of art.

There’s no telling that to the drivers though, who treated the parade with the intensity of the race itself – fighting for position, making contact, but laughing and screaming in equal measure. Some things never change, no matter the machinery!

Red Bull x Star Wars

A long time ago in a paddock far, far away...

Red Bull’s Star Wars collaboration brought the galaxy to the grid ahead of the 2005 Monaco Grand Prix, with the team running a special Star Wars livery to promote Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

The reveal of the livery itself was something to behold – Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Stormtroopers, C-3PO and R2-D2 were all on hand to mark the occasion and absolutely made for one of the more surreal moments in the sports history.

The team really threw themselves into the promotion across race weekend in their Star Wars-themed uniforms – though the Force was perhaps not with them when it mattered during the Grand Prix, as both Coulthard and Liuzzi retired from the race.

F1 x KitKat

Have a break... from your regular F1 content, because this one has been quite the treat. A giant, to-scale F1 car made entirely from chocolate – if that isn’t the stuff of dreams, we don’t know what is!

KitKat’s collaboration with F1 has been one of the sweeter partnerships on the grid, with the chocolate company also producing miniature milk chocolate racing cars and fans already enjoying their activations in place throughout the season thus far. Needless to say, the drivers are very much on board with this partnership – because they deserve a break too!

F1 Vegas x Peanuts

Another collaboration that wasn’t the most obvious pairing – Charles Schulz’s beloved Peanuts characters and the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix – but for many fans, seeing Snoopy and the gang given the Grand Prix treatment was a welcome nostalgia hit.

It was a fitting reunion of sorts, with Peanuts having a long history in car racing long before their partnership with F1. This pairing produced some of the most wholesome merch the sport has seen in years – featuring original art of the Peanuts characters across sweatshirts, T-shirts, plush toys, and accessories for adults and children. Think sequins and Snoopy – what more could you want from an exclusive collaboration?

Borgudd x ABBA

Long before F1 and pop culture immersion were the norm, ABBA were ahead of the curve. Swedish drummer Slim Borgudd, who was friends with members Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, had played sessions with the pop sensations, and when he decided to pursue his F1 dream, ABBA gave him permission to carry their name on his car. No money changed hands, but the sponsorship was exceptional publicity still remembered to this day.

Borgudd made his F1 debut at the 1981 San Marino Grand Prix at 34, out-qualifying his ATS team mate Jan Lammers before going on to finish a solid sixth at Silverstone later in the season – a solid points finish with one of the most unique sponsor logos on the grid. A move to Tyrell followed in 1982 before he found his true calling in truck racing, where he went on to win four European Truck Championship titles in the 1990s. An unlikely duo, but proof that the sport’s crossover appeal into pop culture is nothing new!

Sauber x Chelsea

Two sporting giants joined forces in yet another unexpected partnership when, in 2012, Sauber and Chelsea FC announced a collaboration that was the first of its kind between an F1 team and a football club. Chelsea’s logo appeared on Sauber’s C31, while Sauber’s branding features on the advertising boards at Stamford Bridge.

The timing was key to this deal – both teams celebrating their 20th year in their respective competitions, and both clearly keen to highlight the parallels between two team sports operating at the highest level.

Jordan Honda Civic

To mark their partnership with Eddie Jordan’s iconic F1 team, Honda released one of the most charming, limited edition road cars of the late 1990s. Just 500 Honda Civic Jordans were produced, all finished in a bright yellow with a black and yellow interior, a B16 engine under the bonnet, and the hornet logo dotted around the vehicle.

For any Jordan fans – or F1 fans – that were lucky enough to get their hands on one, it still remains one of the most unique pieces of motorsport memorabilia out there.

Williams and SEGA

In 1993, Williams partnered with SEGA to put the gaming giant’s branding on what was the most dominant car on the grid at the time – the FW15C driven by Alain Prost and Damon Hill. The collaboration came at the height of Sonic the Hedgehog’s global popularity, and the partnership did make logical sense: the fastest gaming mascot in the world, aligned with the fastest F1 team of the era.

That said, not everything went entirely to plan. SEGA provided a unique Sonic trophy for the winner of the European Grand Prix at Donnington Park, fully expecting it to end up in the hands of one of the Williams drivers given their form. But it didn’t – Aryton Senna produced one of the greatest laps in F1 history in the wet to take victory for McLaren, and it was the Brazilian who lifted the trophy instead.

Over 30 years later, Williams are still making headlines for their exciting collaborations – most recently, teaming up with Marvel where they’ll have their very own comic book!

F1 x Monopoly

F1 and Monopoly – two things renowned for bringing out competitive spirit – have joined forces in 2026. Hasbro’s special edition Formula 1 Monopoly game swaps the iconic streets for Grand Prix circuits, with players racing around the calendar for points and wins rather than collecting properties. For F1 fans wanting a more high-octane game night, consider this your new go-to!