For young Formula 4 United States Championship Powered by Honda drivers, most want to follow in the footsteps of their Formula 1 role models. Sixteen-year-old F4 U.S. driver Baltazar Leguizamon of Buenos Aires, Argentina, proved not only do the young athletes admire the F1 drivers for their work on the track but also their actions off the field. Thus, Leguizamon has introduced the “shoey” to the United States.
On Sunday after completing a season-high second-place finish during the final F4 U.S. Championship race, Leguizamon celebrated his victory on the podium by taking off his right neon green OMP racing shoe and filling it with the celebratory F4 U.S. champion’s sparkling grape juice.
Leguizamon then pressed his race-worn shoe against his lips, guzzled down the juice and threw deuces over his head to symbolize his second-place finish.
“The taste was amazing because I was on the podium,” said Leguizamon, who drives for Miller Vinitieri Motorsports.
Leguizamon’s unconventional celebration, which is called a “shoey,” was mimicked after Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo. Ricciardo first showcased the “shoey” after he placed second in the German Grand Prix earlier this year. Ricciardo honored the podium placement by drinking champagne from his racing shoe. Ricciardo continued his signature Australian trademark on the Italian Grand Prix podium and after winning his first F1 race of the season in Malaysia. On the Malaysia Grand Prix podium, Ricciardo had his Red Bull Racing mate Max Verstappen and Nico Rosberg to join in.
“I saw the Red Bull guys Ricciardo and Verstappen celebrate that way on the podium,” Leguizamon said. “I like Ricciardo and Verstrappen because they are aggressive drivers like me. I love that driving style. I wanted to honor my podium and these drivers by drinking from my shoe just like them.”
Leguizamon hopes to return to the F4 U.S. Championship for season two in 2017 to continue the “shoey” ritual during a podium win.
