Champagne Moët & Chandon toasts to Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes), an Italian driver on Monza podium

A return within a return, one which will remain in history, and in which two destinies crossed paths: that of the very young Kimi Antonelli who, driving for Mercedes and after an extraordinary comeback race from place No. 19 to first, became the first Italian driver to stand on the Monza podium in 60 years (the last before him was Ludovico Scarfiotti for Ferrari in 1966, earning congratulations from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as well as from Jannik Sinner, among the many celebrities in attendance); and that of LVMH, which through Champagne Moët & Chandon (one of the most renowned brands within the world largest luxury group, alongside Krug, Cheval Blanc, Château d’Yquem, Ruinart, Dom Pérignon, Domaine des Lambrays, Veuve Clicquot, Cloudy Bay, Bodega Numanthia, Terrazas de los Andes and Ao Yun, among others), turned one of the world most anticipated and widely followed sporting events into a celebration of the heritage and allure of its famous French sparkling wines. In 2025, Moët & Chandon returned to the track as the official champagne through a prestigious ten-year global partnership  - creating an occasion which blended marketing, communication and hospitality, bringing together VIPs, Michelin-starred chefs and leading sommeliers from Italy most celebrated restaurants. Guests included former Formula 1 driver Jean Alesi, rapper Lazza, actors Stefano Accorsi and Michele Morrone, among many others, as well as WineNews (which, as we will soon share in an upcoming video interview with Benoît Gouez, Moët & Chandon Chef de Cave since 2005, was also present). Together, they raised a toast in the hospitality areas of the historic circuit, as well as in some of Milan trendiest venues, during a long weekend that the Maison dedicated to the Grand Prix. This was the thrilling and adrenaline-fueled Formula 1 Pirelli 2026 “Italian Grand Prix” at Monza, where Aka 12 claimed victory and, alongside George Russell (Mercedes) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) on the podium, quite literally bathed in the celebratory Jeroboam, signed by the winners and their team, following the strains of the Italian national anthem and to the applause of fans, including Ferrari supporters, showered with champagne in keeping with tradition. Because, as the entire Formula 1 world sang at the end with the Ricchi e Poveri hit “Sarà perché ti amo” - “Maybe it’s because I love you”, it is all about a passion for sport that wine has always accompanied, transforming it into a ritual.
“Our second season alongside Formula 1 marks the transition from a return to a lasting presence. United by the same pursuit of precision and excellence, Moët & Chandon and Formula 1 celebrate the savoir-faire, teamwork and passion that define both of our worlds. Together, we continue to transform the podium into a moment of shared victory, paying tribute to the collective spirit behind every achievement”, said Sibylle Scherer, president & ceo of Moët & Chandon.
The charm and elegance of Champagne, long a protagonist of life most iconic moments, much like Italy sparkling wines, and of Moët & Chandon, remain timeless. Through them, the Maison continues to write its own history, strengthening its bond with the pinnacle of motorsport, of which it once again became the Official Champagne in 2025 (following a distinguished interlude dominated by Italy Ferrari Trentodoc), while passionately carrying forward a heritage built on excellence and emotion. The bond between Moët & Chandon and Formula 1 is, in fact, legendary. It dates back to 1950, when at the Reims Grand Prix, Frédéric Chandon de Briailles spontaneously offered a bottle to the race winner, establishing a tradition that would evolve into the Celebratory Jeroboam. Since then, it has been present at the podium celebrations of champions such as Sir Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Niki Lauda, Alain Prost, Mika Häkkinen and Michael Schumacher. Moët & Chandon relationship with motorsport stretches even further back, however, to 1936, when Tazio Nuvolari celebrated his Vanderbilt Cup victory by drinking Champagne from a Moët & Chandon Jeroboam.
In 2026, Moët & Chandon continues to accompany drivers and teams through every stage of the post-race ritual: it all began in the Parc Fermé immediately after the race, when attention turns to the teams and the winning driver signs the Celebratory Jeroboam, which will then join the historic collection of Formula 1 Jeroboams preserved in Moët & Chandon cellars in Épernay, before moving on to the Cooldown Room, where drivers relive the Grand Prix and fully savour their victory. The Corridor then leads the champions to the podium for the eagerly awaited ceremony, in which the Jeroboams once again take centre stage.
And on the occasion of the 2026 “Formula 1 Pirelli Italian Grand Prix”, Moët & Chandon brought to Monza two remarkable icons from its history: Spirit of 1743, the Champagne cork-shaped hot-air balloon that celebrates the year the Maison was founded, which flew above the “temple of speed” and the city of Monza, and the Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman driven by Jean Alesi, long used to welcome distinguished guests to the Moët & Chandon estate, including Alain Prost and Jean Todt, ça va sans dire.