News Summary
- Lando Norris was seen drinking Coca-Cola in the cooldown room after finishing third at the Spanish GP
- An off-camera person apparently told the McLaren driver he should not be drinking the rival brand, prompting an immediate response from Norris
- Pepsi became an official Formula 1 partner in 2025, putting the unusual exchange into the spotlight after the Madrid race
Lando Norris had already endured one frustrating afternoon in Madrid when Formula 1 produced another unusual moment after the Spanish GP.
The McLaren driver was drinking Coca-Cola in the cooldown room ahead of the podium ceremony when an off-camera person appeared to tell him he should not be doing so. Formula 1 has a commercial partnership with PepsiCo, whose portfolio includes rival cola brand Pepsi.
Norris was unimpressed.
“I’m allowed to drink what I like. I just did a fucking race,” the reigning world champion responded during the exchange.
The incident was captured on the world feed as Norris sat alongside race winner Kimi Antonelli and second-placed Max Verstappen before the podium ceremony.
Why was Norris told not to drink Coca-Cola?
The unusual moment appears to stem from the commercial relationship between Formula 1 and PepsiCo.
F1 announced a multi-year global partnership with PepsiCo in 2025, bringing three of the company’s brands — Sting Energy, Gatorade and Doritos — into the championship’s commercial portfolio.
The agreement made Sting Energy Formula 1’s official energy drink, while Gatorade became the official partner of F1 Sprint. PepsiCo also secured pouring and supply rights at selected races.
That made the sight of Norris openly drinking a can of Coca-Cola — one of Pepsi’s biggest commercial rivals — particularly conspicuous in one of Formula 1’s most visible television environments.
However, there has been no public indication that Norris himself breached a regulation by drinking Coca-Cola, and it remains unclear exactly who spoke to him or whether the intervention represented an official instruction from Formula 1.
What is clear from the footage is that Norris had little interest in changing his drink.
Norris’ frustration followed Spanish GP heartbreak
The exchange came only minutes after Norris had lost a race he appeared set to win.
The McLaren driver started from pole and controlled the Spanish GP before the timing of a Virtual Safety Car transformed the race.
Norris had already passed the pit entry when the VSC was activated, allowing Antonelli, Verstappen and several other drivers behind him to make their stops under reduced-speed conditions.
Racing resumed before Norris could make his own stop, and a slow McLaren tyre change caused further damage. He eventually recovered to third behind Antonelli and Verstappen.
Norris subsequently argued that Formula 1 should reconsider the VSC rules, saying situations such as Madrid “shouldn’t define a race”.
The official post-race press conference also reflected his frustration. Norris said there had been “nothing I could do” about the VSC timing and described himself as “insanely unlucky”, although he congratulated Antonelli and Verstappen for their performances.
Steiner calls Norris’ response “unprofessional”
Former Haas team principal Günther Steiner subsequently criticised Norris’ handling of the Coca-Cola exchange.
Speaking on The Red Flags Podcast, Steiner argued that Norris should have respected Formula 1’s commercial partnership rather than publicly pushing back against the request.
His comments added another layer to what had initially been a brief and unusual post-race moment, but Norris’ actions themselves quickly attracted attention online.
The episode also highlights the sometimes awkward overlap between drivers’ personal choices and Formula 1’s increasingly extensive portfolio of global commercial partners.
Norris has his own sponsorship commitments through McLaren and personal agreements, while Formula 1 separately maintains championship-level partnerships. What a driver happens to eat or drink can therefore become unexpectedly visible when it occurs in an official broadcast environment.
Norris leaves Madrid after controversial weekend
The Coca-Cola exchange was only one of several talking points to emerge from Formula 1’s first race at Madring.
Drivers heavily criticised the circuit’s lack of overtaking opportunities, with several calling for modifications before the championship returns to Madrid.
Oscar Piastri said only Monaco was more difficult for overtaking, while Norris also identified sections of the circuit he believes should be changed.
For Norris, however, Madrid will primarily be remembered as an opportunity lost. He had the pace to win before the VSC intervened, only to leave Spain with third place — and an unexpected argument over a can of Coke.
FAQ
Why was Lando Norris told not to drink Coca-Cola?
Norris was seen drinking Coca-Cola in the cooldown room after the Spanish GP when an off-camera person appeared to object. Formula 1 has a commercial partnership with PepsiCo, which owns rival cola brand Pepsi. It has not been publicly confirmed who spoke to Norris or whether he was formally prohibited from drinking Coca-Cola.
What did Lando Norris say about drinking Coke?
Norris responded that he was allowed to drink what he wanted after having just completed a Formula 1 race. The exchange was captured during the television broadcast before the Spanish GP podium ceremony.
What happened to Lando Norris at the Spanish GP?
Norris started from pole and was leading before an unfortunately timed Virtual Safety Car allowed several rivals to make cheaper pit stops. He eventually finished third behind Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen.
