At first, the swapping of Champaigne by sparkling wine at the Formula One podium might seem like a minor change. In this sport, however, certain traditions run very deep and are often considered an important part of its history.

Deciding to suddenly axe some of those traditions is surprising, to say the least, and probably painful for the most purists of F1 fans. 

We can soon expect the outrage of the most conservative faction of Formula One followers to hit the media after business owners made the announcement today of this controversial change which is meant to modernize the sport. 

Champagne will no longer be sprayed from the top of the podium at the awards ceremony. The iconic ‘magnum’ bottles are now banished and, in their place, the winner will be shaking a bottle of wine…sparkling wine, of course. 

The news was released by Formula One’s Italian CEO Stefano Domenicali, who has also confirmed that the wine which is to replace the Champagne is the Italian brand Ferrari Trento. The new wine will now become the official drink that accompanies the winner’s celebration tradition. 

Domenicali has also explained that the new drink will be served at the F1 Paddock Club, as well as at other official events organized by the F1. 

A somehow different celebration 

When asked about the reasons behind this decision, Domenicali, who appears completely unconcerned about breaking a tradition spanning several decades, had the following to say: 

“It is because of the quality of the product and the quality of the company. That is why we have agreed to partner. I want to make sure that with Ferrari Trento, being such an exceptional Italian product, I would like this celebration to be somehow different”. 

In any case, this will not be the first time that this wine makes an appearance at the F1 podium. Ferrari Trento was already used in the Italian Grand Prix 41 years ago. Simone Mase, general director of the Lunelli Group, owners of the Italian label, reminded the press of this first appearance:  

“In 1981 we were on the podium of the Monza Grand Prix. So, we have beautiful pictures of that occasion with great champions. They have already tasted Ferrari, but now we are partners and we cannot wait to be there”. 

(The photos which Mr Mase refers to were actually taken at the Imola Autódromo and not at Monza). 

The wine will make its appearance at the 2021 Emilia-Romagna GP 

In order to witness his commercial dream, come true, Simone will have to wait for the second appointment of the 2021 calendar; the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix in April. 

In any case, and since the consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in that track, as well as across all of the Persian Gulf countries hosting Formula 1 Championship events, the wine will then be replaced by another non-alcoholic concoction. 

For several decades, Champagne makers Moet and Mumm alternated their presence on the podium. At the beginning of 2016, however, the sparkling winemaker Chandon closed a deal to be the sole Champaigne provider at the paddock. 

The partnership did not last long as Formula 1 announced a brand-new agreement with the Carbon firm halfway through the World Championship the following year. 

More changes in the horizon 

The “revolutionary” initiatives of the former Ferrari team principal do not end here with the sparkling wine. Domenicali is in fact hoping that this change will open the door to others that could be implemented in the future, and which could also involve the podium ceremony. 

One such innovation consisted of streaming live broadcasts of the awards ceremony through GoPro cameras installed in the champagne bottles. The initiative, however, proved to be a failure due to the poor quality of the transmission. 

Images of sparkling wine: F1.