In Monza, too, “Victory is Better When Shared.” At the Autodromo Nazionale, it’s time for those days we look forward to at least once a year. Days of speed and competition. Of dream drivers and sharing unforgettable moments. In the stands, in the paddock, in the pits, and especially on the track. Or on the podium. After all, that’s what Formula 1® is all about. But amid those emotions—especially the final ones—that crown a weekend of hard work and battles fought down to the tenths of a second, there’s one brand that, more than any other, has an unbreakable bond with the pinnacle of motorsport: we’re talking about Moët & Chandon.
The brand, founded in 1743, shares its exceptional savoir-faire with the world through its unmistakable champagnes. And, of course, on all the prestigious Formula 1® tracks as well. Among them is the championship’s premier event, the Monza Grand Prix, which has brought Formula 1® stars to Italy—and, above all, the desire to share joy and celebration. Preferably with a bottle of Moët & Chandon, which, simply put, is the official champagne not only of F1 but also of victory. It’s the champagne of the number-one drivers who, on the podium after the rigors of the race, let loose in a liberating celebration. Like Kimi Antonelli, who yesterday—Sunday, September 6, 2026—gave Formula 1® enthusiasts and Italian fans an unforgettable day by winning his home Grand Prix for the first time while wearing a tricolor helmet.
And also those on the track—not just the drivers, but the spectators watching the feats of the stars behind the wheel of their single-seaters on the starting grid. Like the guests in the exclusive hospitality area inside the Monza Race Club, where Moët & Chandon has created an exclusive lounge overlooking the race’s starting grid, with several friends of the brand who came to watch the most anticipated Grand Prix—and more. They also raised a toast at 5:43 p.m.—a time chosen deliberately to mark the brand’s founding year—with an extraordinary Champagne Pyramid, where the glasses were filled to celebrate Antonelli’s victory.
A historic relationship
And when it comes to that liberating celebration we were talking about earlier, the champagne brand has something to say. Because it has taken center stage among the leading players in the history of the world’s most important and beloved auto racing championship. And it has been doing so for a long time now—ever since 1950, when, at the Reims Grand Prix, Frédéric Chandon de Briailles spontaneously offered a bottle to the race winner. That gesture gave rise to a timeless ritual: the Celebratory Jeroboam, a symbol of victory, collective emotion, and enduring celebration—a tribute to the champions of yesterday and today. Deep within the historic cellars of the Maison in Épernay, several tunnels house a rare and precious reserve of Jeroboams, each destined for Formula 1. In the silence of these places steeped in history, the bottles await their moment of triumph. Once they arrive at the Grand Prix circuit, they are signed by the race winners and shared with the teams on the podium, sparking an outpouring of joy and celebration. Each bottle encapsulates decades of history, the signatures of generations of champions, and the memory of countless victories, unforgettable feats, and the electrifying energy of champions celebrated together.
A long-standing partnership that has recently once again crowned the moment of victory, as Moët & Chandon continues to accompany drivers and teams through every stage of the post-race ritual in 2026, transforming victory into a profound emotion and a shared memory. Reenacting a gesture as iconic as it is accidental: the Champagne Spray. A tradition now 60 years old, dating back to the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans—a race destined to forever change the way victory is celebrated. As three Ford cars led the race in its final hour, Henry Ford II broke with tradition. Instead of the usual bottle, he asked for a Jeroboam of Moët & Chandon, declaring that when America wins, it celebrates with three liters of champagne. Bruce McLaren and Chris Amon were the first to raise the large bottle on the podium.
Spray Champagne Turns 60
Then came the moment no one had anticipated. During the awards ceremony, the Jeroboam presented to Jo Siffert and Colin Davis, winners of the 2-liter class, was shaken too vigorously. The cork popped, unleashing a shower of champagne on the podium. A spontaneous incident turned into an unforgettable moment. An incident that was repeated the following year at the same race, in 1967, and that made its way into Formula 1® in 1969 thanks to Sir Jackie Stewart during the podium ceremony after the French Grand Prix. It became a ritual that has permeated the language of the championship and remains a highlight of post-Grand Prix celebrations to this day. From Niki Lauda and James Hunt to Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost, Michael Schumacher, Lewis Hamilton, Max Verstappen, Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, all the way to Kimi Antonelli and many others, every champion has brought their own personality to the champagne spray ritual. Today, it remains one of the most recognizable images in Formula 1®, embodying excellence, emotion, and unforgettable moments. Sixty years later, the champagne spray continues to say it all: victory is sweeter when shared. Especially with Moët & Chandon.
