Hello Kitty x F1 Academy: Bringing Pink to F1

Hello and welcome back to the paddock! Just when we thought the Las Vegas Grand Prix couldn’t get any more extra, Formula 1 Academy said, “Hold my bow,” and teamed up with none other than Hello Kitty for a full-on racing crossover that’s giving pink merch, Grand Prix experience dreams, and childhood nostalgia all at once.

And, yes, you read that right — Hello Kitty and F1 Academy are collaborating for the 2025 Las Vegas Grand Prix, and it’s already breaking the internet (and wallets)! This crossover is bringing full chaotic/kawaii energy with themed Hello Kitty grandstands, exclusive merch you can only get with Grandstand tickets, online merch you can race for, and fan activations across the East Harmon and Koval Zones that’ll make your inner child and F1-loving heart equally happy.

Between meet-and-greets, live entertainment on the Heineken Stage, and views straight into the F1 Academy paddock, this is shaping up to be one of the most unique experiences on the F1 calendar, and we are so here for it.

What’s Happening

F1 Academy (Formula 1’s all-female racing series founded by Susie Wolff) has partnered with Sanrio, the powerhouse behind Hello Kitty, to create a limited-edition grandstand experience at the Las Vegas GP.

The Hello Kitty Grandstand Package is available in both three-day and single-day versions, located in the East Harmon Zone by Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Fans sitting there will have a front-row seat to Turns 3 and 4, where drivers push their limits before blasting down the Koval Straightaway. In other words: high-speed chaos meets pastel perfection. You’ll only receive the merch if you purchase 3-day tickets, though.

And because it’s Vegas, it’s not just about the view. Your three-day ticket gets you:

·  Access to all F1 and F1 Academy sessions

·  Two exclusive Hello Kitty x F1 Academy merch items

·  Live entertainment & driver interviews at the Heineken Stage

·  Access to two fan zones full of interactive activities

·  Views straight into the F1 Academy paddock (take pics, please).

Single-day tickets start from $235, while three-day passes offer the full Hello Kitty experience, including a chance to see Hello Kitty herself making appearances throughout the weekend. Yes, the queen is showing up trackside. We’re hoping she’s coming in her own pink race suit with a livery somewhere hiding. 

Merch Madness Galore

The collab also includes a 36-piece merchandise collection, and fans are already spiraling (in the cutest way). Expect apparel, accessories, and collectibles that blend F1 Academy’s energy with Hello Kitty’s charm.

While some pieces are exclusive to grandstand ticket holders, the full collection will be online at the F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix store, with select items also available at the F1 Store, Beams US, and Zumiez. So even if you can’t make it to Vegas, your chances of snagging something are slightly good.

And judging by Reddit, you might need to hit “add to cart” fast! Fans are already calling this “bankruptcy in pink.”

From Sanrio stans thrilled to finally see motorsport cross over into their world, to parents excited about how this might inspire more young girls to see themselves in racing, the responses are overwhelmingly positive.

One Reddit user summed it up perfectly: “Like this collab or not, you can’t deny that Susie Wolff and the Academy team are putting in the work.” And honestly? That’s the takeaway.

Why This Actually Matters

On the surface, it’s a marketing dream — but I think it’s also something deeper. This partnership represents how F1 Academy is reshaping what motorsport can look like. By teaming up with Hello Kitty, one of the most recognizable and empowering female-led brands on the planet, the series is sending a loud message: girls belong here, too.

It’s approachable, it’s inclusive, and it’s fun, something Formula 1 can lose between tire strategies and pitstop issues. This collab can bring in new fans, make the paddock feel more welcoming, and remind everyone that passion for racing doesn’t have to look one way.

So, everyone, whether you think it’s brilliant branding, delightfully chaotic, or maybe you’re not a fan, there’s no denying the Hello Kitty x F1 Academy collab is the moment. It’s giving accessibility, femininity, and a little rebellion, all wrapped in a pink bow.

Between the exclusive merch, the themed grandstands, and the sheer joy this partnership has sparked, one thing’s clear: motorsport is finally embracing the fun side of the fandom.

So yes, you might see us in a Hello Kitty bucket hat or F1A tee!

By: Chelsea