Disney x Formula 1 helmet sets auction record at £151,000 for Make-A-Wish
A Disney-themed Formula 1 replica helmet has become the most expensive non-race-worn F1 helmet ever sold at public auction, raising £151,000 for Make-A-Wish International.
The winning bid, placed by a private collector, values the helmet at approximately $201,000 and more than €175,000. Organisers said the result was the highest publicly recorded price for an F1 helmet that was not worn or used during an official race weekend.
A unique collaboration for charity
The Disney x Formula 1 Fuel the Magic Helmet was created exclusively for a fundraising campaign involving Disney, Formula 1 and Memento Exclusives, the company behind F1 Authentics. The initiative was designed to help grant life-changing wishes to children living with critical illnesses.
Built by Bell Racing, the custom helmet features Mickey Mouse and the signatures of 20 current Formula 1 drivers. The signed line-up includes four-time drivers’ champion Max Verstappen, reigning champion Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc, Kimi Antonelli and Pierre Gasly, who serves as a Make-A-Wish France ambassador. The signatures were collected during the British Grand Prix weekend at Silverstone.
The sale gives Verstappen another connection to a major charitable result after the race suit he wore at the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix previously held F1 Authentics’ record for an individual charitable item, selling for £112,000. The platform’s previous charity auction record for an F1 helmet was £84,000, achieved by Alexander Albon’s race-used helmet from the 2022 Singapore Grand Prix. Verstappen recently discussed the personal side of life around Formula 1 race weekends.
Mickey Mouse design, collector’s presentation
Designed by Bret Iwan, the official voice of Mickey Mouse, with creative direction from Disney Consumer Products global creative director Bobby Kim, the helmet uses a matte black base with high-gloss graphics. Red and yellow accents combine Mickey artwork with Formula 1 branding, while a Make-A-Wish star behind Mickey’s shoe creates the impression of a trailing sparkle.
The winning bidder will receive a custom presentation box, a plexiglass display case and a certificate of authenticity signed by Iwan and Kim. A second version will be displayed at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in Anaheim, California, from August 14 to 16, 2026.
All auction proceeds will go directly to Make-A-Wish International, reinforcing the purpose behind a sale that has set a new benchmark for F1 memorabilia while supporting children living with serious illnesses.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.