Petronas CEO apologizes for exuberance in Singapore GP champagne celebration

Tengku Muhammad Taufik Tengku Aziz, president and CEO of Petronas, apologized for participating in the champagne spray celebration at the Singapore Grand Prix podium, acknowledging that his "spur-of-the-moment exuberance" may have been misplaced given his Muslim faith and the sensitivities around alcohol consumption in Malaysia. Although he clarified he did not consume any alcohol, his involvement in the long-standing Formula One champagne tradition sparked significant backlash on Malaysian social media, with critics labeling it inappropriate for a senior Muslim executive representing a government-linked company to partake in an alcohol-related celebration. The youth wing of Malaysia's political party Bersatu condemned the act, arguing it normalized alcohol use at official events and called for government warnings to uphold the country's Muslim-majority identity. Others defended Tengku Taufik, noting the celebratory spray is a customary part of Formula One and emphasizing he did not drink alcohol. Despite the controversy, Tengku Taufik expressed pride in receiving the Winning Constructor Trophy on behalf of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team and reiterated Petronas' commitment to motorsports and Malaysian innovation. The incident highlights the cultural and religious sensitivities surrounding alcohol-related celebrations in Muslim-majority countries even within international sporting traditions.