PETALING JAYA: PETRONAS president and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz has apologised for his participation in a champagne-spraying celebration during the recent Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.
He said his exuberant reaction on the podium following Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS’s victory was spontaneous and unintentional, and he takes full responsibility for his actions.
“I acknowledge that my spur-of-the-moment exuberance in celebrating that moment of victory may have been misplaced.
“While I can categorically state I did not consume any alcohol, as a Muslim, I should have been more aware of the sensitivities associated with taking part in such celebrations,” he said in a statement.
“I want to apologise for any unintended offence caused and take full responsibility for my actions,” he added.
Tengku Muhammad Taufik said he was honoured to receive the Winning Constructor Trophy on behalf of the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team, calling the victory “a much-awaited achievement” in their long-standing partnership.
He also expressed gratitude for the public’s continued support for PETRONAS’s participation in Formula One, describing it as “the pinnacle of motorsports competition”.
Tengku Muhammad Taufik received mixed reactions online after he was seen joining the champagne spray on the winners’ podium.
The incident occurred when Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS driver George Russell clinched the race on Oct 5, with Tengku Muhammad Taufik representing the title sponsor in receiving the trophy.
While some social media users echoed the criticism, others defended Tengku Muhammad Taufik, saying he had not consumed alcohol and was simply following a long-standing Formula One tradition.
The Formula One champagne shower tradition dates back to the 1950s and is used to mark the triumph of the top three finishers in each race.
