Norris hit by fireworks during out-of-control celebration with Verstappen

The McLaren driver had just smashed his champagne bottle and was walking around blinded by the champagne Verstappen and Hadjar had sprayed over him when he walked straight into a shower of sparks on the podium without looking. He was then seen shielding his face from both the fireworks and the champagne shower, still holding the broken bottle. In the background, Verstappen watched on, looking both astonished and amused. Footage of the moment can be viewed at the bottom of this article.

According to McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, Norris was unharmed. Stella had not yet spoken to his driver personally at the time, but understood that he was doing well. He said the incident he had been informed about involved the fireworks. The 2025 world champion was not injured by the broken champagne bottle, as its top had remained intact. At Monza in 2020, however, he cut himself after also breaking a champagne bottle by smashing it against the concrete floor while celebrating with his team. The glass on that bottle was considerably thinner, so it did not stand a chance.

Norris often smashes his champagne bottle against the podium floor to pop the cork. Things also went wrong in Hungary in 2023, when he was standing next to race winner Verstappen. At the Hungaroring, the champagne bottle did not break, but the impact sent Verstappen’s handmade porcelain trophy tumbling off the podium, where it shattered into pieces. Norris later apologised, and Verstappen received a replacement trophy.