Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton joins Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo for his traditional ‘shoey’ podium celebration… and immediately regrets it
- Six-time Formula 1 champion joined Ricciardo for customary ‘shoey’ celebration
- Ricciardo, 31, forgot to perform his iconic podium celebration last month
- But after making it onto the podium in Italy he made sure to drink from his shoe
- Perth-born driver was this time joined by Hamilton – who winced as he took a sip
Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton joined Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo for his customary ‘shoey’ celebration – but winced in disgust after taking a sip.
Ricciardo, 31, forgot to perform his iconic podium move – which involves him drinking champagne from his shoe – after finishing third at Germany’s Eifel Grand Prix last month.
But after claiming third place again at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Italy, the larrikin sportsman made sure to remember his famous celebration.
As the Perth-born driver went to pour the Moet champagne into his shoe, Hamilton – who finished first – decided to join in on the post-race hijinks.
Lewis Hamilton spills champagne from his shoe over third-placed Renault Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo on Sunday after the Perth-born driver made up for forgetting to do a ‘shoey’ after last month’s Grand Prix
Hamilton winced in disgust when he joined Ricciardo in his podium tradition on Sunday – later saying the beverage taste like ‘toe jam’
Not only did Hamilton decide to have a go at the bizarre celebration, he even used Ricciardo’s other shoe instead of his own.
Ricciardo had a wide smile on his face as he drank from his shoe, but the British racing great appeared to be having a very different experience as he grimaced through the unconventional beverage.
The Australian driver has become well-known on the F1 tour for his jokey, light-hearted behaviour and first performed a ‘shoey’ when he made the podium in 2016.
Ricciardo said he was shocked Hamilton was eager to try the classic Australian right of passage given he had turned down a ‘shoey’ offer on the podium before.
‘I was about to drink a beautiful fresh one and I heard Lewis say, “take your other shoe off”,’ the 31-year-old later told Sky Sports in the paddock.
‘And I was like “no” because three years ago on the podium he said, “I’ll never ever drink it, you can offer me, you can force me, I’ll never do it”.’
The Australian driver first performed a ‘shoey’ when he made a podium in 2016 and has made it his customary tradition in the years since
But Hamilton eventually convinced his rival to hand over the footwear, but soon regretted asking for it, describing the taste of his drink as ‘toe jam’.
‘I don’t like champagne as it is, but that definitely tasted worse,’ he said.
Hamilton came back from third place at the end of the opening lap to lead Finnish teammate Valtteri Bottas in a Mercedes one-two finish at the Italian circuit.
Ricciardo finished third for Renault, his second podium of the season for a French team who are also now third overall, with Russian Daniil Kvyat fourth for AlphaTauri.
The Briton took the chequered flag 5.783 seconds ahead of pole man Bottas.
Hamilton also banked a bonus point for the fastest lap to extend his lead to a hefty 85 points with four races remaining.
Australian Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo (right) is a much-loved larrikin on the F1 circuit