RECORD-BREAKING DISNEY x FORMULA 1® HELMET RAISES OVER £150,000 FOR MAKE-A-WISH® INTERNATIONAL FROM F1® AUTHENTICS AUCTION

F1 Authentics, operated by Memento Exclusives, has revealed that the Disney x Formula 1® Fuel the Magic Helmet, signed by 20 current F1® drivers, has raised a record-breaking amount for Make-A-Wish International. With a winning bid of over £150,000, the Disney x Formula 1® Fuel the Magic Helmet has become the highest publicly recorded sale of a non-worn/used Formula 1® helmet at public auction.*

Disney, Formula 1® and Memento Exclusives came together to auction the custom designed Bell Racing helmet, featuring Disney’s Mickey Mouse, to raise funds for Make-A-Wish® International in a first-of-its-kind initiative to help grant life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses. It was hoped this exceptional opportunity for one lucky fan to make a unique addition to their collection would raise significant funds for the charity, and that ambition was reflected in a competitive global bidding process. 

Ultimately, the helmet was sold to a private collector for an incredible £151,000 ($201.000 USD).

This amount breaks the record for an individual charitable item auctioned by F1® Authentics, with the previous highest single donation made on a Max Verstappen race suit from the 2023 Canadian Grand Prix that raised £112,000 ($149,000 USD). The record for a helmet auctioned for charity by F1 Authentics was also surpassed, previously held by the race-used 2022 Singapore Grand Prix helmet of Alex Albon, which sold for £84,000 ($112,000 USD).

Helmets signed by Formula 1® drivers are incredibly rare collectibles, especially in the case of the Disney x Formula 1® Fuel the Magic Helmet, as it features multiple drivers from across the grid competing in the current season. The signatures were captured at the British Grand Prix, including reigning champion Lando Norris, four-time Drivers Champion Max Verstappen, 2026 breakout star Kimi Antonelli, Formula 1® British Grand Prix 2026 race-winner Charles Leclerc and Make-A-Wish France ambassador Pierre Gasly. 

The custom “Fuel the Magic” racing helmet was created with Bell Racing and designed by Bret Iwan (the official voice of Mickey Mouse), with creative direction from Bobby Kim (Global Creative Director, Disney Consumer Products). It features a matte black base with high-gloss graphic elements, combining bold red and yellow accents alongside Mickey Mouse artwork and Formula 1® branding. A subtle Make-A-Wish star appears just behind Mickey’s shoe, reading as a trailing sparkle as he races forward, adding both magic and meaning to the design. 

The winning bidder will also receive a custom presentation box for display, featuring a plexiglass case and a certificate of authenticity signed by both Iwan and Kim. 

A second helmet will be showcased at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, taking place August 14-16, 2026, in Anaheim, California, where fans will have the opportunity to see the design up close.

Barry Gough, Founder and CEO of Memento Exclusives (F1® Authentics) added,

“We are very happy to have achieved these significant funds for Make-A-Wish. Being entrusted by Disney and F1 with a cause as important as auctioning the Fuel the Magic helmet is something we are incredibly proud of. We are delighted that this captured the imagination of bidders worldwide and that the winner has not only secured an iconic piece of memorabilia but has made a huge impact on an incredibly worthy cause.”

* Based on publicly available auction results and discoverable records at the time of publication. This claim relates solely to Formula 1 helmets that were not worn or used during an official race session and excludes private sales and any auction results that are not publicly reported.