Mercedes' sponsor apologized for his behavior on the podium.

      Petronas executive director Tengku Muhammad Taufik apologized for his actions on the podium during the Singapore Grand Prix award ceremony.

      In a statement published in the local newspaper The Straits Times, Taufik said he may have unintentionally offended Muslims by dousing himself with champagne in celebration of George Russell’s victory. The executive director of Petronas, which has been the title sponsor of Mercedes since 2010, said he forgot about possible “delicate moments” regarding alcohol consumption during the podium ceremony.

      “I acknowledge that my spontaneous euphoria in celebration of the victory may have been inappropriate,” Tengku Muhammad Taufik said in the statement. “I can categorically state that as a Muslim I did not consume alcohol, and I should have been more mindful of the delicate aspects related to taking part in such celebrations.

      I want to apologize for any unintended offense and take full responsibility for my actions.”

      At certain Formula 1 events where local laws prohibit the consumption and advertising of alcohol, non-alcoholic substitutes are used at the podium ceremony instead of champagne. However, there is no such ban in Singapore, and the drivers on the podium doused themselves with champagne.