Moët Hennessy brings living memories to the Monza Grand Prix with Massimo Bottura, Sir Jackie Stewart and champagne showers
Photo by Marie Flament, Courtesy of Formula 1 Grand Prix
As Formula 1 celebrates its 75th anniversary, the prestigious race has never been more beloved globally. Motorsports have been around since the 1800s but since its inception, Formula 1 Grand Prix has been a tour de force of luxury and glamour. Today, fans watch and attend races from all corners of the world including Mexico, Las Vegas, Brazil, Qatar and Abu Dhabi. Yet none are as effortlessly chic—or have the same historical significance—as the Grand Prix in Monza, Italy.
Monza is home to the oldest Grand Prix track, known as the “temple of speed,” where drivers reach g-forces of 370 kilometers per hour for 53 laps. The elevated winner’s podium is also the birth place of the champagne shower thanks to Moët & Chandon, Formula 1’s official partner who’s been a part of the story since the beginning. “We’ve been in love with the sport for almost a hundred years,” says Sybelle Scherer President and CEO of Moët & Chandon, noting that the brand previously partnered with Formula 1 from the 1950s to late 1990s.
Photo by Zak Mauger/LAT Images, Courtesy of Formula 1 Grand Prix
With a newly re-inked 10-year contract, Moët Hennessy and the LVMH Group are back in the infamous paddock and ready to celebrate. This year’s race in Monza was filled to the brim with offerings from their iconic Maisons and fully-stocked bars filled with Moët & Chandon, Whispering Angel and more. So why did Moët Hennessy return to racing? “It’s very authentic, very close to our hearts,” Scherer says. “We feel very happy and blessed to be back with this sport because it’s also a sport that we helped to create.”
Photo by Marie Flament, Courtesy of Formula 1 Grand Prix
To celebrate the renewed partnership, a series of events took place on and off the grounds of the famous race track. Programming included VVIP tours of the Aston Martin Garage, a turn around the track, a private reception and dinner catered by Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura, and a welcome speech by legendary driver Sir Jackie Stewart. The celebratory dinner fittingly took place at Garage 21 in central Milan and was decked out with trophies, memorabilia and even the 1960s race car Stewart drove for one of his three Formula 1 World Champion wins. Stewart was one of the first drivers to celebrate his Monza win by spraying his gifted magnum of Moët & Chandon onto the cheering crowd below.
Photo by Marie Flament, Courtesy of Formula 1 Grand Prix
Cocktail hour began with the opening of a 24-month aged wheel of Parmiggiano Reggiano that was served with 15-year aged Aceto Balsamico di Modena. Inventive drinks featured more Moët Hennessy spirits and creative ingredients like salted foam and rosemary, while Chef Massimo Bottura presented a multi-course menu inspired by notable F1 moments throughout history.
The weekend served as a welcome reminder and history of two storied brands and the true strength of Moët Hennessy’s partnership with Formula 1. “At Moet & Chandon we’re family,” Scherer says. “It’s not the individual, it’s a collective. [We have] the same shared values of happiness and joy.” By seamlessly combining the nostalgic past and the adrenaline-filled energy of the race track with the renewed Moët Hennessy partnership, they’ve created even more ways to engage with people making a trip to the Temple of Speed an unforgettable, multi-sensory experience.
75 Years of Legacy: A Celebration with Formula 1
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