Formula 1 drivers are some of the bravest people in the world. With that kind of speed and that kind of risk, to try to compete on the limits of physics requires a big brave heart. Yet, in 2015, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton took the idea of F1 drivers being brave to a whole new level.

This was in Sochi, Russia after the Briton won the Russian Grand Prix ahead of Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and Force India’s Sergio Perez. And as is often the case, the top finishers in the race were awarded the trophies by members of the Russian Government; this time including President Vladimir Putin.

Now, before we progress from this point, it should be noted that Putin is one of, if not the most powerful person in the world. So to do what Lewis Hamilton did next after he was handed the trophy by someone like Putin is incredibly dangerous, brave, and funny at the same time.

What Hamilton did was, sprayed champagne over the President of Russia, who quickly walked off, escorted by his security who gave a little look.

Fortunately, Hamilton didn’t face any consequences for what happened. Because let’s face it, spraying champagne over the Prime Minister of any country can easily appear ‘disrespectful’, among other things.

And to do that to Putin, even if it was unintentional, could’ve been quite a situation. Regardless, Putin played it cool and probably forgot about it.

But Lewis Hamilton certainly didn’t, as he recalled it in 2018.

Lewis Hamilton came clean to President Putin in 2018

After winning the Russian Grand Prix, the British driver and the Russian President faced off for the first time since 2015. But Putin joked to Hamilton, “I am accustomed to awarding you something each year.”

Yet the seven-time world champion immediately took the opportunity and said, “This year I won’t spray you with Champagne. Last year it wasn’t me. It was someone else!”

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And that’s what happened. Lewis Hamilton stayed true to his word and didn’t spray any champagne on President Putin. But had he done so again, we’ll leave it up to you to imagine what could’ve happened.

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