French Champagne Returns To Formula 1 Podium With Carbon Deal

French champagne, rather than sparkling wine, "will again be sprayed" on the Formula 1 podium after Carbon was announced as the sport's new official supplier at the Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday, according to Alan Baldwin of REUTERS. In a "fresh twist," the bottles presented to the top three drivers will have markers -- gold for the winner, silver for second and bronze for third. The bottles, containing a vintage 100% Chardonnay 2009 Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Millesime, are "coated in the same carbon fiber used in manufacturing race cars." Mumm was F1's most recent official champagne but that 15-year partnership ended in '15. Chandon, which has vineyards in Argentina, the U.S., Brazil, Australia, India and China, stepped in as the replacement. That meant the "familiar" drawn-out shout of "Champaaaagne" as the corks popped on the podium was "silenced," since wine can only be called "champagne" if harvested and produced in the eastern French region (REUTERS, 7/30).