Moët & Chandon, Formula 1 Mark 60 Years of Motorsport’s Iconic Champagne Spray
The celebration traces its origins to the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race, where an accidental burst of champagne during a podium ceremony created what would later become a defining symbol of victory across motorsport.
Luxury champagne house Moët & Chandon and Formula 1 are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the champagne spray, one of the most enduring and recognizable traditions in global motorsport.
The celebration traces its origins to the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans race, where an accidental burst of champagne during a podium ceremony created what would later become a defining symbol of victory across motorsport.
According to Moët & Chandon, the story began when Henry Ford II requested a three-litre Jeroboam of champagne to celebrate a potential Ford victory at Le Mans. While the oversized bottle made an impression, it was an unexpected moment during the awards ceremony that entered racing folklore. A vigorously shaken bottle presented to category winners Jo Siffert and Colin Davis erupted, showering the podium with champagne.
The following year, American racing driver Dan Gurney deliberately recreated the spectacle after winning the 1967 Le Mans race alongside A.J. Foyt, transforming an accident into a tradition.
The ritual soon crossed into Formula 1. In 1969, Sir Jackie Stewart brought the champagne spray to the French Grand Prix podium, where it quickly became a central feature of post-race celebrations.
Over the decades, Formula 1 legends including Niki Lauda, James Hunt, Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen have all contributed to making the champagne spray one of the sport’s most iconic images.
For Moët & Chandon, the anniversary highlights a long-standing association between luxury brands and elite sporting events. The champagne house, founded in 1743, currently distributes its products in more than 150 countries and remains one of the world’s leading champagne producers.
The milestone also underscores Formula 1’s growing global influence. Since its inception in 1950, the championship has evolved into one of the world’s most commercially successful sporting properties, attracting hundreds of millions of viewers annually and drawing sponsorship partnerships from some of the world’s biggest luxury, technology and consumer brands.
Sixty years after an accidental cork pop at Le Mans, the champagne spray continues to symbolize triumph, celebration and shared success at the highest levels of motorsport.
