Coulthard defends Norris in Coca-Cola row after Steiner called him ‘unprofessional'
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11:00, 17 Sep
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Kieran is a freelance Formula 1 journalist for GPblog, covering breaking news, live race blogs and feature content across the F1 calendar. An NQJ-qualified journalist with more than a decade of experience, he has previously written for publications including MailOnline, the Manchester Evening News and the Eastern Daily Press.
David Coulthard has leapt to the defence of Lando Norris following the controversy surrounding the McLaren driver’s Coca-Cola incident after the Spanish Grand Prix.
Norris was criticised after appearing to push back when he was told not to drink a particular beverage in a certain room following the race. However, former F1 driver Coulthard believes the Briton was entirely justified in refusing to be controlled after competing in a Grand Prix.
“Well done Lando for sticking his ground,” the Scot told the Up To Speed podcast. “I’ve only seen the sort of text comments about someone trying to tell him not to drink a particular type of drink in a particular room, and he’s like, ‘Hey buddy, I’ve just done a Grand Prix. I am doing what I want to do’.”
Coulthard argued that Norris had earned the right to make his own decision after the physical demands of a race weekend.
“Well done him, because you know what? He’s earned the right to eat the chocolate bar or drink the fizzy drink, whatever it is,” he continued. “P*** off and stop trying to control everything.”
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Steiner labelled Norris ‘unprofessional’
Coulthard’s comments come after former Haas team principal Guenther Steiner took a very different view of the incident.
Steiner called Norris “unprofessional” over the Coca-Cola can moment, suggesting the McLaren driver should have handled the situation differently despite the unusual circumstances surrounding it.
Speaking on The Red Flags podcast, the former Haas F1 team boss said: "If you are a professional, you don't do that. End of story. You know what you can do and what you cannot do. You're well trained. He shouldn't have done it. 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***."
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