Mercedes Celebrates Seventh Title With Virtual Toast

Mercedes racer Lewis Hamilton celebrates with the team after Mercedes locks up the seventh world title at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at the Imola Circuit, Italy (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Mercedes celebrated a record seven consecutive constructors' titles in Formula 1 on Monday, November 2 by virtually raising champagne glasses.

The most dominant team in F1 usually celebrate their victories with the staff, but amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many of them are working from home. This year's win feels different from the previous six titles.

In the past, factory staff at Brackley and Brixworth got together for a group photo with the Mercedes riders and officials before hearing thanks and motivational speeches.

Launching Antara on Tuesday, a team spokesman told Reuters a video had been sent to staff for their on-the-spot viewing and a virtual group photo had been planned.

"Employees working from home have had champagne and face masks delivered to them by volunteers and people at the factory receive the same," he said.

Andrew Shovlin, head of trackside engineering, said after Sunday's Emilia Romagna Grand Prix in Imola, Italy, that the celebration would feel strange under a nationwide lockdown.

"We have low capacity at the factory because we are lowering it again, people who can work from home are working from home and there will be no associations," he said.

"We certainly need a number of people to come in because some of them have tasks that cannot be done remotely. But we will rely on technological solutions to try and carry out our celebration and keep things together.

"One of the best things about winning the championship in Formula 1 is the fact that you are doing it as a team, and it would be weird not to celebrate together."

Six-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, who celebrated his 93rd career win on Sunday and is heading for his seventh world title, agrees that the constructors title is always special.

"The essence of our job is to get points and results for the team," he said. "So when you guys win the team championship I think it's almost better than individual titles because it's something you do collectively."