Lando Norris drinks a can of Coca-Cola after the Spanish Grand Prix and is told off for it – his reaction delights fans worldwide
Lando Norris is the talk of the town after the Spanish Grand Prix, and not just because of his third-place finish. In the cool-down room, the McLaren driver was apparently asked by an official to put his can of Coca-Cola away. Norris, however, was not fazed and responded clearly.
The 2025 World Champion had started the race at the Madring from pole position and initially led comfortably. During the first stint, Norris managed to build up a lead over Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli. However, an unfortunately timed Virtual Safety Car phase cost the Briton the victory.
The neutralisation was triggered by the retirement of Aston Martin driver Lance Stroll at Turn 20. Norris had passed the pit entry just moments earlier and was therefore forced to complete a slow lap around the Madring. Antonelli and Red Bull driver Max Verstappen, by contrast, were able to pull into the pits for a relatively well-timed pit stop during the VSC phase. Antonelli ultimately won the Grand Prix ahead of Verstappen, thereby extending his lead in the World Championship. Norris had to settle for third place.
Norris refuses to be told off for drinking Coca-Cola after the race
Although Coca-Cola is a sponsor of McLaren, it is not part of Formula 1’s partner portfolio. Instead, there is an official partnership between the premier class and PepsiCo, the parent company of Coca-Cola’s rival Pepsi.
When an official in the cool-down room asked Norris to put the drink away, the McLaren driver responded confidently: “I’ve just driven a race, so I can drink whatever I like. Thank you very much.”
The brief exchange subsequently went viral on social media. Numerous Formula 1 fans are celebrating Norris for his forthright response. “That’s THE highlight of the Madrid Grand Prix,” wrote one fan on Reddit. Another pointed out the potential impact of the scene: “The irony is that their attempt to stop him has now drawn so much more attention to it.”
Fans are rallying behind the McLaren driver
Norris’s behaviour was also discussed in comparison to that of other drivers. “I love this version of Lando. Kimi’s learning from Max how to deal with the media, and Lando’s getting funny,” commented one fan. Another joked: “Max will turn up at the next race with a six-pack of Red Bull. I like this Lando.”
Further reactions were also clearly in the Brit’s favour. “A completely understandable reaction after being so thoroughly outclassed in that bloody race,” wrote another fan. Others commented: “That’s right, Lando! Good for him” and “I fully support Lando’s cheeky reaction. That was brilliant. He’s tired and having a bad day. He’s not playing by the rules. Let the man have his little bit of fun.”
For Norris, then, the race left him with a small personal victory alongside the lost win. His reaction to being asked to put the Coca-Cola away became one of the most talked-about moments of the weekend on social media.