Lewis Hamilton Sprayed Putin With Champagne and Tried to Laugh It Off

Lewis Hamilton dominated the Russian Grand Prix like few others, winning five of the eight races held at Sochi between 2014 and 2021. But one of those wins came with a moment he’d probably rather forget — when he found himself face-to-face with Russian president Vladimir Putin on the F1 podium.

It was 2015, and Hamilton had just secured his second straight victory at Sochi. As part of the post-race tradition, Putin appeared on the podium to hand out the trophies — a routine moment that quickly turned awkward. As the champagne bottles were uncorked, Putin was still standing nearby, and the president appeared to catch some of the celebratory spray.

Whether or not it was Hamilton who accidentally caught him in the crossfire, the moment sparked global chatter. The following year, in 2016, Hamilton finished second to teammate Nico Rosberg and returned to the podium once again. This time, things got even stranger.

In the cooldown room, Putin approached Hamilton and, through a translator, said, “I am accustomed to awarding you something each year. Year, after year…”