The official kick-off event for the 2020 Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix in Vietnam was held by the Vietnam Grand Prix Corporation (VGPC) and Heineken at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on April 20.

The Hanoi administration and Department of Culture and Sports co-organized the event that started the countdown to the first-ever F1 Grand Prix to be held in Vietnam next year.

The kick-off event featured live performances from real F1 cars from the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Team, driven by legendary driver David Coulthard.

Thousands of Vietnamese fans were thrilled to experience the sights and sounds of F1 and to get a taste of what is to come at the same venue in 12 months’ time.

“This is my second time performing with the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Team in Vietnam and I am especially excited that Vietnam will host its first official F1 Grand Prix next year,” Heineken F1 Ambassador David Coulthard, a 13-time Grand Prix winner, stated.

“Having previously experienced the excitement and anticipation for F1 in Vietnam, I have no doubt that Vietnam will become one of the great Grand Prix’s around the world and a favorite with the drivers and teams.”

Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, was also present at the event. The Hanoi chairman warmly congratulated David Coulthard and the racing team on the spectacular performance.

Formula One is more than just a race, so to give fans the full F1 experience, Heineken also brought DJ/Producer Armin Van Buuren, the only DJ to be named No. 1 DJ in the world for five times, to Hanoi for an exclusive performance.

Armin Van Buuren was supported by stunning performances by Vietnamese artists - Son Tung M-TP and Tung Duong - to complete the thrilling experience.

Beyond the exhilaration of the car racing and music was a more serious message by Heineken – When You Drive, Never Drink – which was prominently integrated into the event, reminding spectators not to drink and drive.

“On behalf of Heineken Vietnam, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to Hanoi People’s Committee and VGPC for having the vision to bring such an outstanding global sporting event as F1 to Vietnam,” Leo Evers, managing director of Heineken Vietnam, said, in discussing Heineken’s role in the F1 Vietnam Grand Prix kick-off event.

Evers said Heineken is thrilled to be able to support by bringing this perfect F1 experience closer to thousands of Vietnamese fans.

“It is also important that we use this significant platform of F1 and the Vietnam Grand Prix to reinforce the important message ‘When You Drive, Never Drink’ in order to positively inspire Vietnamese consumers not to drink and drive,” he added.

Heineken also used the occasion of the F1 Vietnam Grand Prix kick-off event to promote a brand new taste variant, Heineken Silver, just released in Vietnam.

Created by Heineken`s Master Brewers, Heineken Silver is a smooth and easy-to-drink beer, which retains the signature Heineken full-bodied taste known around the world since 1873.