The humid Formula One (F1) Hungaroring race weekend merited cool showers from the podium, though an unfortunate circumstance interrupted the festivities of the now seven-straight race winner, Max Verstappen.
Shortly after hearing the ever so familiar “Wilhelmus,” the two-time F1 Drivers Champion commenced the celebrations, with McLaren F1 Team’s Lando Norris (second) and Red Bull Racing teammate Sergio Perez (third) crowned as fellow finalists.
Upon unleashing the three-liter ‘Ferrari Trento,’ the British 23-year-old slammed the champagne bottle on Verstappen’s platform, where his silverware topped to the ground, leaving the porcelain trophy in shambles. Unalerted by the situation, Norris joined his fellow podium placers before assessing the damages after emptying the bottles.
Attempting to salvage the situation, Norris amusingly decided to utilize the remains of the Dutchman’s Hungarian Grand Prix trophy as a makeshift bottle opener. Said to have been manufactured by a Budapest local, the damaged £34,000 (€40,000) gold-pink-and-white race winner’s trophy posing as a tribute to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie, constructed with a matching bottom.
The McLaren F1 Team responded to the situation on Twitter, apologizing to Verstappen and Red Bull Racing during the tourney’s closing segments. Receiving the remains of his ninth F1 victory of the season, the Dutchman responded humorously, thanking Norris for the outcome.
Wonder why that note is there then? 🧐🤔🍾 @LandoNorris #HungarianGP 🇭🇺 pic.twitter.com/GEIzaebqYy
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) July 23, 2023
Twitter: @McLarenF1
