Moet & Chandon has made a return to 2020 F1 season as its champagne supplier while Carbon relationship has been ‘discontinued’.

While fans and alike geared up for the start of the 2020 F1 season, one thing which some of them noticed while a lot seems to have missed was not the different podium format due to COVID-19 pandemic, but the change in champagne supplier.

French-based Moet & Chandon returned to the fray as a replacement to Carbon, which took over as the official supplier in 2017 and had its deal extended with F1 until the 2021 season. In fact, it still features as F1’s partner on the sport’s corporate website.

However, Moet & Chandon was seen not only in F1 but also F2 and F3 podium ceremonies in Austria. When asked by FormulaRapida.net, F1’s spokesperson confirmed the return for 2020 season, adding that the relationship with Carbon has been ‘discontinued’.

While sharing a statement from Moet & Chandon, the spokesperson added that “F1 and Carbon relationship has been discontinued”, but had no further information to reveal if it is just for the 2020 season and or if it goes beyond this year.

FormulaRapida.net contacted Carbon for a comment but got no answer from them as yet, but some reports suggests that the decision to pull out was due to COVID-19 pandemic and that they hope to return in 2021 when things get back to normal.

Meanwhile, the statement from F1 went: “Moet & Chandon has long been a pioneer in sports sponsorship, toasting thrilling victories and creating countless “red carpet” moments on the winners’ podium, such as the celebratory spray, one of sport’s most iconic expressions of celebration and accomplishment.

“Moet & Chandon has been the official champagne of numerous automobile competitions and races dating back to the 1930s, and the official champagne of Formula One from the 1960s to 1997. Loyal to its motorsports legacy and its values of generosity and celebration, today the Maison provides Jeroboams of its champagne to accompany podium moments at Grand Prix events for season 2020.”

Here’s the news on Carbon extending its deal with F1