As you can imagine, absolutely EVERYTHING in F1 has a rule governing it, revised and reissued by the FIA each year in a hefty 70 page document, called the F1 Sporting Regulations.
On page 46, appendix three, ‘Podium Ceremony’, rule four ‘Trophies’, it clearly stipulates that the trophies to be dished out ‘must be in the form of traditional cups’.
Now while any other infraction of the rules in F1 usually ends up with the perpetrator in serious trouble, it is fair to say that this one has been well and truly bent, especially over the last few years.
1993 European Grand Prix
Ayrton Senna meets Sonic the Hedgehog, in a masterful PR stunt by SEGA, ahead of the proper trophy handout. Naughty.
2014 British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton and a Santander inspired trophy, or as he called it ‘that £10 red plastic thing’
2008 Brazilian Grand Prix
To make up for him missing out on the world title by a whisker, Felipe Massa gets given a Klingon dagger
2014 Chinese Grand Prix
At least this one is a cup. Inspired by Mushu, the dragon out of Mulan. There can be no other explanation
2010 German Grand Prix
Yet more sponsor related rubbishness. Still, nice to be reminded what Fernando Alonso looks like with a trophy
2006 Hungarian Grand Prix
His first win and all Jenson Button gets is a vase that your granny might have on her mantelpiece
2015 Canadian Grand Prix
Just what I always wanted, a giant food whisk
2004 Bahrain Grand Prix
Rubens Barrichello thrilled to be awarded with a waste paper basket for his drive to second place
2014 Austrian Grand Prix
For his first F1 podium, Valtteri Bottas is to be given a circular saw
1989 Brazilian Grand Prix
Talking of dangerous trophies, this monstrosity had razor sharp edges, as Nigel Mansell soon found out as he sliced open his hand on it
2015 Austrian Grand Prix
Another awful Austrian prize. This one made out of locally sourced wood. Handy as it’ll burn nicely
2011 Hungarian Grand Prix
Never mind Jenson, it’ll make a lovely toast rack
2015 Chinese Grand Prix
China keep up their impressive record of shocking trophies, this one is what appears to be a giant Polo mint. On fire.
Read more posts by Grand Prix Diary in Home Of F1 on DriveTribe the new website by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
Posted in Home Of F1, a tribe lead by Rob Burnett
Get the DriveTribe App for news, reviews, hottest videos, craziest games, toughest quizzes, and that Clarkson bloke.
