When you watch an F1 podium ceremony on television, one of the most iconic sights is the winning driver lifting a bottle and spraying foam everywhere.
That “champagne fight” has become one of the most recognisable celebration scenes in Formula 1.
But in fact, the bottle is not always alcoholic.
Sometimes it can be a non-alcoholic sparkling drink instead.
The look is almost exactly the same, but depending on the country and the sponsor situation, the contents can be different.
That may sound a little surprising at first. The broader podium tradition itself, however, is very real and long-established in motorsport.
│The champagne spray began in 1967
The origin of this tradition was not actually Formula 1, but the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It is widely credited to American driver Dan Gurney, who sprayed champagne after winning the 1967 race. The Automobile Club de l’Ouest’s Le Mans history feature describes that moment as the start of the champagne-spray tradition in motorsport.
That bold celebration drew attention and spread across the racing world.
From there, the podium “champagne fight” became a familiar tradition in motorsport.
Over time, famous sparkling-wine and champagne brands became closely linked with F1 podium celebrations. Formula 1 officially announced Ferrari Trento as the sport’s “Official Sparkling Wine” ahead of the 2021 season, and Reuters reported that Moët & Chandon returned as the official champagne provider from 2025 under the wider LVMH partnership.
│The “official F1 sparkling” changes over time
For many years, the F1 podium was associated with famous French champagne houses.
Then, in 2021, Formula 1 named Ferrari Trento of Italy as its official sparkling wine for the podium ceremony. Formula 1’s own announcement described Ferrari Trento as the “Official Sparkling Wine” and “Official Toast of Formula 1.”
Ferrari Trento is a sparkling wine from Trentino in northern Italy, made using the traditional method also associated with champagne-style production. Ferrari Trento itself described the partnership as running from 2021 to 2024, while Reuters later reported that Moët & Chandon would replace it from 2025.
So even the “official bottle” on the podium is something that can change with time.
│Why can it become non-alcoholic?
There are a few reasons why an F1 celebration drink can sometimes shift toward non-alcoholic branding or presentation.
1. Cultural and legal reasons
In some countries, alcohol is heavily restricted by law or by local custom.
That makes an alcohol-based podium celebration more sensitive than it would be elsewhere.
2. Sponsor strategy
In recent years, non-alcoholic brands have also become visible in Formula 1.
One official example is Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0%, which appears as a Scuderia Ferrari partner and represents the wider trend of alcohol-free branding in the sport.
3. A more global and diverse sport
Formula 1 now races across many different countries and cultural environments.
Because of that, the sport increasingly balances tradition, sponsor interests, and local expectations when it presents its celebrations. This point is consistent with F1’s modern global commercial direction and the way official podium partners have changed over time.
│The look stays the same
Even when the branding or contents differ, the visual idea of the podium celebration remains almost unchanged.
The foam, the bottle shape, and the sense of celebration are all designed to preserve the same emotional image for viewers.
In that sense, F1 keeps the atmosphere of celebration while also adapting to changing sponsors and global circumstances. The sport’s official podium partner has clearly changed over time, but the celebration scene itself has remained recognisable.
│F1 tries to maximise both show and consideration
Even that spectacular podium spray reflects wider things happening in Formula 1.
Tradition, international culture, and sponsor strategy are all mixed into one short moment.
The next time you watch an F1 podium, it might be fun to look not only at the drivers’ celebration, but also at the bottle itself and think,
“Which brand is being used this time?”
That small detail can tell you quite a lot about how Formula 1 keeps changing while still preserving its most famous traditions. The long arc runs from Dan Gurney’s 1967 Le Mans spray to today’s officially branded podium celebrations.