Barossa Valley Winemaker Partners With Formula 1, As Ricciardo Looks For Podium Finish

The 2019 Formula 1 Rolex Grand Prix will get underway today in Melbourne, but not before Barossa Valley winemakers, St Hugos, become the official wine supplier of the race in Australia.

Pernod Ricard, owner of St Hugos, will feature premium Australian cabernet sauvignon and shiraz releases for VIP guests at the Formula 1 Paddock Club.

This marks the first time St Hugo will be served exclusively on track in an effort to deliver the ultimate world-class hospitality experience and CEO of the Australian Grand Prix Corporation, Andrew Westacott, says the partnership will do just that.

“This partnership is a perfect fit, as each shares a continual pursuit for excellence, which is seen across the St Hugo range and at our event at Albert Park,” he said.

Marketing Director for Pernod Ricard Australia, Eric Thomson says the partnership will help with its international recognition.

“We are immensely proud to announce this exciting partnership with the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, which shares many of the same values as St Hugo, a fine wine created to honour the love between a father and son to continue on his winemaking legacy,” he said.

“With a global reach, this partnership not only allows St Hugo to continue to engage with consumers in our home market but also supports our continued ambitions in Asia and beyond.”

Here are some interesting facts you can tell your friends about:

22 – No country has hosted the first F1^® race of the season more often than Australia (this will be the 22nd time).

0 – No Australian driver has ever earned pole position, reached the podium, and won the AusGP (34 Grands Prix).

1 – Ferrari driver Vettel is one win away from equalling Schumacher as the driver with the most wins (four) and most back-to-back victories (3 – 2000-02) at the AusGP.

7 – Lewis Hamilton has started from pole position seven times at the AusGP, more often than any other driver in this race (including five in the Hybrid Era).

16,277 – Red Bull will race in Australia with their youngest two drivers ever in a single F1^® grand prix (Max Verstappen and Pierre Gasly – 16,277 days combined).

1 – Should Charles Leclerc not finish at the AusGP, he would be the first to retire in his debut race for Ferrari since Schumacher in 1996 (Australia).

6 – No driver has recorded as many fastest laps in Melbourne (6) as Raikkonen, more than at any other Grand Prix in his professional career.

2 – Reigning world champion Hamilton has finished in second place in his last three races in Australia; only in Valencia (European GP) has he finished runner-up on as many consecutive occasions (2008-10).

5 – Verstappen comes into this race having finished on the podium on five consecutive occasions, his best run on the podium since his F1^® career began.

986 – Ricciardo is just 14 shy of 1,000 points in his Formula 1^® career, and can surpass the figure with a podium finish; he would become just the second Australian to reach as many points in the sport (Mark Webber – 1047.5).