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Podium ceremonies in Formula 1 are generally straight-forward. The top three race finishers are allowed onto a raised platform for the national anthems to be played. After that, the drivers along with the winning constructor team’s representative, spray and drink the champagne.
A Grand Prix is incomplete without a rostrum celebration. Most of the fans watching a race in person, prefer rushing to gather below the podium and more often than not, race viewers all over the world do not switch off their television screens before the festivities are over.
The trend to shower onlookers with champagne was started by Dan Gurney after he won the 1967 24 Hours of Le Mans. It quickly caught on and has now become a given for celebrating on the F1 rostrum. Albeit, the champagne has occasionally been replaced by sparking rosewater, orange juice or even local beer in the case of Gilles Villeneuve emerging victorious during his home race in 1978.
While the celebration styles change with each racer’s personality, it is uncommon for the sport to stray much from the tried and tested script of podium ceremonies. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned. Let’s have a look at some of the most unusual podium ceremonies in the history of Formula One:
#5 Unopened champagne bottles
It is common practice to have the champagne bottles opened prior to being handed over to the drivers on the podium. It helps the drivers to get straight into celebration mode after the formalities have been done away with.
During the 1986 Brazilian Grand Prix, the drivers were given bottles with the cork tightly intact. Once the national anthem stopped playing, the trio of Ayrton Senna, Jacques Laffite, and Nelson Piquet, were baffled to find out that they were supposed to work hard before they could enjoy the bubbly.
After fiddling with the bottles for a little while, the drivers were finally able to spray the sparkling liquid onto each other and the fans. The small mistake on the part of the organizers brought about a few chuckles but the podium finishers quickly resumed the festivities.
#4 Deserted podium ceremony
Nowadays, it is mandatory for the required drivers to attend the podium ceremony but it was not so in the earlier days. Standing on the F1 rostrum is a prestigious affair that not many racers would choose to skip out on.
James Hunt, however, was cut from a different cloth and chose to rather fly home than attend the celebrations that were being held for him. The British driver won the 1977 Japanese GP and instead of claiming the top step, decided to head to the airport immediately after the checkered flag had been waved.
The administrators were left even more embarrassed when the second place winner, Carlos Reutemann, also opted an early flight home rather than enjoying on the podium.
Thus, the last ever race victory in James Hunt’s career was celebrated by third-placed Patrick Depailler along with a random Magneti Marelli trade representative
#3 Nigel Mansell's trophy cut
Nigel Mansell is famous for his 31 race wins along with the solo world championship, but he is probably equally known for his clumsiness. The British driver bumped his head on a low bridge while he was on his way to a podium during the 1987 Austrian Grand Prix.
That was not the only time something weird happened around Nigel during podiums. Two years after the head bumping incident, the Englishman won the 1989 Brazilian GP despite him being convinced that he would not have been able to accomplish any such feat. He has already booked an early flight home but stayed back due to his surprise victory.
The triumph came at a price. While Mansell tried to hoist his winner’s trophy, he managed to cut his hand on an edge, putting an early end to celebrations. The cheerful mood quickly turned to concern when blood started flowing from the Briton’s hands.
#2 Happy Birthday playing instead of the national anthem
First race wins are often the cause of unbridled joy. Standing on the top step of the podium with your country’s national anthem playing in the background can render quite a few sportspersons emotional.
Alan Jones might have expected the same during the first of his 12 career wins, but his victory was so unanticipated that the organizers did not have access to the Australian national anthem. So, the former world champion had to be content with a drunk playing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song on a trumpet during the 1977 Austrian Grand Prix.
While a birthday might have brought a person joy akin to a race victory, it was not the Australian’s birthday either, which made the whole affair rather comical.
#1 Alain Prost Drops Trophy to Tifosi
Celebrating in front of the Tifosi can be either exhilarating or nerve-wracking, depending on how much the crowd favors you. When Alain Prost emerged victorious in Italy with McLaren, the fans were immensely pleased with the result.
The Frenchman had signed on a contract to drive for Ferrari during the following season. Hoping to please his soon-to-be home crowd, Prost dropped his silverware from the rostrum into the horde of people gathered below. In the hustle, the cup was ripped into pieces with the handle and the base detaching from the middle part of the trophy. The events of that day can explain why, to this day, McLaren drivers are required to relinquish any trophies won to the team.
The 1989 Italian Grand Prix would remain a fond memory for the fans who were able to retain a piece of the coveted trophy, but it isn’t so for Ron Dennis. Alain was left with the constructor’s trophy discarded at his feet by the former McLaren team principal, as a means to show his displeasure. The four-time world champion presented Ron with a replica during a Christmas party years later.
Which one is your favorite? Have your say in the comments below
