Former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner has sharply criticized Lando Norris for his unprofessional conduct during the Coca-Cola incident in the cooldown room after the Spanish Grand Prix. Norris, who finished third at the Madring circuit, was seen drinking from a can of Coca-Cola before the podium ceremony, prompting an official to reprimand him for violating sponsor regulations. The McLaren driver firmly rejected the request, telling the official, "I just did a race, so I'm allowed to drink what I would like. Thank you so much."
The moment quickly went viral, with many fans praising Norris for his candid response. However, Steiner was less impressed. Speaking on The Red Flags podcast, he emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable for a professional. "If you are a professional, you don't do that. End of story," Steiner said. "You know what you can do and what you cannot do. You're well trained. He shouldn't have done it."
Steiner: It's About Professionalism
While acknowledging that no harm was done, Steiner stressed the importance of discipline in elite sports. "Is it a bad thing that he did it? Will somebody get hurt? No. But as a pro, you shouldn't do it. But he has done it. And you know what? I couldn't give a s***," he added bluntly.
The incident also raised questions about F1's sponsorship rules, as Pepsi is an official partner of the series. Steiner explained that it all comes down to category exclusivity. "It's all going by categories. They sell it and obviously if you don't pay, you cannot have it. And he had a Coke. It was not the smartest thing to do," he said. "But as I said, I don't care because now, for Coca-Cola, it worked out pretty good. It was pretty good for [Coca-Cola]. If they wouldn't have said anything, nobody would have even noticed, but because it was so bumped up now it's a thing, and now Coca-Cola is laughing."
On track, Norris remains a force to be reckoned with. He currently sits fourth in the drivers' championship with 186 points, five behind Lewis Hamilton and 106 adrift of leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli. As the title battle intensifies, every point and every decision—both on and off the track—could prove crucial.
Steiner's outspoken nature is well-documented, but the spotlight on Norris serves as a reminder that top drivers are always under scrutiny. Whether it's a daring overtake or a simple sip of soda, everything can become a talking point. One thing is certain: Norris won't stop being himself, and fans seem to appreciate his authenticity.
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