Lando Norris discusses the Coca-Cola incident in Madrid: “I have the freedom to choose my drinks.”
As many of us eagerly anticipate the forthcoming United States Grand Prix, Lando Norris took a moment to reflect on a viral incident from the weekend of the Spanish Grand Prix. In the cooldown area following the race in Madrid, Norris was asked to set aside the Coca-Cola he was enjoying, and his reaction quickly spread across social media. He has since elaborated on the incident as he prepares for the race in Austin.
Norris secured third place at the new Madring circuit in September after losing his position when a virtual safety car allowed Kimi Antonelli and Max Verstappen to make advantageous pit stops. The reigning champion fought valiantly and certainly earned a refreshing drink post-race, so when someone entered the cooldown room to suggest he not do so, he responded with a touch of irritation.
“I just completed a race, so I should be allowed to drink whatever I choose. Thank you very much,” Norris remarked at that moment.
With Pepsi, a competitor of Coca-Cola, being an official partner of Formula 1, it’s understandable why another brand's logo appearing on the international broadcast might not have been in the championship's best interest.
During his media availability in Austin, when asked if anyone had approached him about the incident and his feelings on cameras capturing drivers immediately after a race, he stated: “No, no one has mentioned anything to me since. I believe we should have the freedom to drink whatever we like after a race, especially after being in it for two hours.
“It’s been among the hottest races, and the cars are challenging to handle, so I feel I should have the liberty to drink what I prefer.”
Lando Norris, McLaren
Norris indicated that his team, McLaren, rather than himself, bore the brunt of the reprimand, and that they have since devised a way to conceal the branding.
“I believe the team may have faced more scrutiny than I did. Consequently, we now have holders for our drinks that are unbranded, but I think I’m free to drink whatever I want. It’s merely a branding issue they have to manage. However, this isn’t something I need to fret over, nor should I. I believe it’s something that was addressed among others. That’s essentially all it was; just television and branding considerations, but I can drink whatever I choose.”
Not everyone was in Norris's corner at the time. Former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner commented on The Red Flags podcast, saying the moment was “not the wisest choice.”
“As a professional, you shouldn’t behave that way. End of discussion,” Steiner stated. “You know the boundaries of what is acceptable and what isn’t. You’re well trained.”
Despite Steiner's remarks, the clip gained significant traction on social media, with fans lauding Norris for standing his ground.
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