A Moët & Chandon cork-shaped hot air balloon has floated across the Melbourne skyline ahead of the Formula 1 Louis Vuitton Australian Grand Prix 2025.

Called ‘The Spirit of 1743’, it is the inaugural visit by the hot air balloon to Australia, in celebration of the return of Moët & Chandon as the Official Champagne of Formula 1.

The 250th anniversary of Moët & Chandon was marked in 1993 by a round-the-globe journey of ‘The Spirit of 1743’. The giant champagne cork hot air balloon was baptised at Château de Saran, the ancestral residence of Moët & Chandon, and named in honour of the year the House was founded.

One of its first major stops was the Eiffel Tower, the symbol of the French Capital, where the balloon paid homage to this eternal symbol of French industry by flying low, near the foot of the tower at dawn. Other iconic locations included Big Ben in London, Moscow’s Red Square and Statue of Liberty in New York.

In 2011, when The Spirit of 1743 was allowed to travel to China, it made a special trip to the Great Wall of China.

Finally, on March 10, the balloon graced the skies of Melbourne at dawn and adding to the excitement and celebration of the Melbourne Grand Prix.

As Formula 1 and LVMH begin their historic 10-year global partnership, Moët & Chandon returns as the Official Champagne of Formula 1. Now, as the sport celebrates its 75th anniversary, the top three drivers and the winning team will toast their success on the podium with Moët & Chandon, marking Melbourne as the exciting moment of return.

Moët & Chandon CEO and President Sibylle Scherer said: “We are honoured and excited to return as the Official Champagne of Formula 1, celebrating a shared history of collective triumph and dedication since the 1950s. We honour the extraordinary teamwork, the unlimited precision, and the pursuit of excellence that drive both motorsport and our craft.

“This partnership is a tribute to the unity and shared achievements of inspiring drivers, their devoted teams, and the global community that rallies behind them. As Moët & Chandon takes its place on the podium once again, we proudly continue to craft moments of celebration that belong to everyone committed to this incredible journey.”

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