When Star Wars took over Formula 1

As the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art prepares to open its doors in Los Angeles on September 22, it's a fitting moment to look back at the times Star Wars and Formula 1 collided. From stormtroopers performing pit stops to Darth Vader posing alongside an F1 car, the two worlds have shared some unforgettable moments.

Why it matters:

The museum, co-founded by George Lucas and Mellody Hobson, is dedicated to visual storytelling. Its opening exhibition, Star Wars in Motion, showcases vehicles, props and costumes from the first six films — including Luke Skywalker's Landspeeder and General Grievous's Wheel Bike. The crossovers between Star Wars and F1 are a natural extension of that storytelling legacy, blending motorsport with one of cinema's most iconic franchises.

The details:

• 2005 – Red Bull joins the Dark Side: Six races into their F1 existence, Red Bull arrived in Monaco with a Star Wars-themed livery to promote Revenge of the Sith. Flames ran along the RB1s, with huge logos and Dark Side references. Darth Vader, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2 and an army of stormtroopers descended on the paddock, while mechanics donned white Imperial outfits. Both cars retired — Coulthard after contact involving Michael Schumacher, Liuzzi later — but the images remain among the most distinctive one-off looks in Monaco history.
• 2015 – Lucas takes over the podium: After attending the British GP, Lucas returned at Monza, where Lewis Hamilton dominated for McLaren. On the podium, Lucas conducted the post-race interviews — meaning Hamilton went from battling rivals to chatting with the creator of Darth Vader.
• 2017 – Renault's 40th anniversary: Both Star Wars and Renault celebrated 40 years in 2017. At Monaco, stormtroopers and R2-D2 joined Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer, while Lucas returned to the paddock. Renault's weekend was mixed: Hulkenberg retired with a gearbox issue, Palmer finished 11th.

What's next:

The Lucas Museum opens September 22 with Star Wars in Motion, offering fans a chance to see the saga's vehicles and props up close. The F1 crossovers may be memories, but the museum ensures the connection between motorsport and visual storytelling remains part of the legacy.