“Welcome to Mario Kart”: Canal+ F1 ad goes viral
The 2026 Formula 1 season has already divided fans and insiders on several aspects, first and foremost the on-track spectacle. Race starts and overtakes seen in both Melbourne and Shanghai have been heavily criticized, with the official F1 account even forced to disable comments following a wave of negative reactions. However, criticism often turns into irony, and for many, the championship we are witnessing feels increasingly similar to a game of Mario Kart.
The famous phrase by Charles Leclerc during the Australian Grand Prix has become a reference point for fans, who are enjoying creating memes and caricatures of drivers battling it out alongside Mario, Luigi, and the other iconic characters from the well-known video game.
The brilliant idea from Canal+: a video blending F1 and Mario Kart
Canal+ trolling F1 with Mario Kart trailer for the Japanese GP 😂pic.twitter.com/5nVhdNUs2v
— MV33Racing🏎 (@MV33Racing) March 17, 2026
In recent hours, ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix, French broadcaster Canal+ promoted the event by releasing a short clip that reimagines on-track action as if it were taking place in the Mario Kart universe: special effects, power-ups, and the classic soundtrack associated with the legendary game.
The clip has quickly gone viral across social media platforms: what do you think? Are we really stepping into Mario’s world?
As the circus heads to Suzuka, the home of Nintendo, the timing of this crossover couldn’t be more perfect. The “Mario Kart” label might be a critique of the 2026 regulations, but it has certainly added a layer of viral entertainment to a season that is proving to be unpredictable both on the track and in the digital world. It remains to be seen if the racing in Japan will feel like a classic Grand Prix or another chaotic dash for the finish line with “imaginary” red shells flying through the air.
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