Early Season Standings After The Australian and China Grand Prix
Formula 1 has always been full of interesting partnerships between teams and brands, from technology companies to watchmakers and energy drinks. In recent years another category has joined the grid; nicotine pouches.
While the main Formula 1 championship remains fiercely contested, here at Snus Vikings we thought it would be fun to track a slightly different leaderboard, the Nicotine Pouch Formula 1 Championship!
With Ferrari partnered with ZYN, McLaren working with VELO (including the McLaren Papaya Orange / Sweet Papaya edition), and Valtteri Bottas representing the 77 nicotine pouch range through Cadillac, we already have three teams with strong connections to the pouch world.
After the first two race weekends of the season, the Australian Grand Prix and the Chinese Grand Prix, the early standings are starting to take shape.
Ferrari and ZYN Start Strong
If this were a championship purely between nicotine pouch-backed teams, Ferrari would currently be dominating the standings.
With ZYN featured prominently in Ferrari’s sponsorship portfolio, the Scuderia has started the season in impressive fashion thanks to strong performances from both drivers.
Australian Grand Prix
Ferrari’s Australian campaign delivered a strong points haul.
- Charles Leclerc – 15 points
- Lewis Hamilton – 12 points
Both drivers showed strong pace throughout the weekend and brought home valuable points, immediately putting Ferrari at the top of the nicotine pouch championship table.
Chinese Grand Prix
The Chinese weekend added even more points to Ferrari’s total.
In the Sprint Race:
- Charles Leclerc – 7 points
- Lewis Hamilton – 6 points
Then in the main race:
- Lewis Hamilton – 15 points
- Charles Leclerc – 12 points
These results reinforced Ferrari’s early-season consistency. Between the two drivers, Ferrari has already built a significant advantage in the nicotine pouch team standings.
McLaren and VELO: A Mixed Start to the Season
McLaren’s partnership with VELO nicotine pouches, including the distinctive McLaren Papaya Orange edition, makes them another team firmly in the pouch-powered category.
However, the season has started with a mixture of strong moments and unfortunate setbacks.
Australian Grand Prix
In Australia, Lando Norris delivered a solid result, scoring:
- Lando Norris – 10 points
Unfortunately, teammate Oscar Piastri did not start the race, leaving the team with fewer opportunities to add to their tally.
Chinese Grand Prix
The Chinese weekend was even more challenging for McLaren.
In the Sprint Race:
- Lando Norris – 5 points
- Oscar Piastri – 3 points
But when it came to the full race, both McLaren cars were unable to start, meaning no additional points were added to the team’s total.
Despite those setbacks, Norris and Piastri have still managed to secure enough points to keep McLaren second in the nicotine pouch championship.
Cadillac and the 77 Nicotine Pouch Connection
Cadillac’s presence on the grid comes with an interesting nicotine pouch link thanks to Valtteri Bottas’ association with the 77 nicotine pouch range, including his own VB-branded editions.
Bottas has long been one of Formula 1’s most recognisable drivers, and his connection with 77 has made him something of an ambassador for nicotine pouches within motorsport.
However, the opening races haven’t been particularly kind to him.
Australian Grand Prix
In Australia, Bottas’ race unfortunately ended early:
- Valtteri Bottas – Did Not Finish
Chinese Grand Prix
Things improved slightly in China, although not enough to reach the points.
- Sprint Race – DNF
- Main Race – Finished 13th
While finishing the race was a positive step forward, the result fell just outside the points-paying positions.
That means Cadillac remains scoreless after the opening two races, but with a long season ahead there is plenty of time for the team to climb the standings.
Driver Standings: The Nicotine Pouch Championship
After the opening two race weekends, the Nicotine Pouch Formula 1 Driver Championship currently looks like this:
- Charles Leclerc – 34 points
- Lewis Hamilton – 33 points
- Lando Norris – 15 points
- Oscar Piastri – 3 points
- Valtteri Bottas – 0 points
The Ferrari pairing currently sits comfortably at the top of the standings, with Leclerc holding a single-point lead over Hamilton.
Norris has built a solid buffer over Piastri thanks to his strong Australian result, while Bottas will be hoping to get off the mark in the coming races.
Team Standings: Ferrari Pull Ahead Early
In the Nicotine Pouch Team Championship, Ferrari has built an early advantage.
Nicotine Pouch Constructors’ Standings
- Ferrari – 67 points
- McLaren – 18 points
- Cadillac – 0 points
Ferrari’s strong double-driver performance means they already have a sizeable lead, while McLaren sits comfortably in second place despite the tough Chinese weekend.
Cadillac, meanwhile, will be hoping that Bottas can convert his race pace into points in the upcoming rounds.
Nicotine Pouches and Formula 1: An Interesting Partnership
Nicotine pouch brands appearing around the Formula 1 paddock reflect a broader shift in the nicotine market.
Unlike traditional tobacco products, nicotine pouches are:
- tobacco-free
- smoke-free
- vapour-free
This makes them fundamentally different from cigarettes or vaping products.
Because of that, many adult nicotine users, including athletes and professionals in demanding environments, have started exploring nicotine pouches as an alternative to smoking.
Motorsport partnerships such as those with ZYN, VELO, and 77 show how the category is becoming increasingly visible in global sport.
Looking Ahead to the Rest of the Season
With only two race weekends completed, the Nicotine Pouch Formula 1 Championship is still wide open.
Ferrari currently holds the advantage thanks to the consistent scoring of Leclerc and Hamilton, but the season is long and Formula 1 has a habit of producing surprises.
McLaren will be looking for a clean race weekend to close the gap, while Bottas and Cadillac will be aiming to get their first points on the board.
For now, though, the early story of the season is clear:
Ferrari and ZYN are setting the pace in the Nicotine Pouch Championship.
We’ll be keeping an eye on the standings throughout the season here at Snus Vikings, because when nicotine pouch brands appear on the grid, it’s only right that they get their own championship table.
