The Start of the F1 Energy Drink War? | Ferrari, Mercedes, & Red Bull | Grid Walk April 13, 2023

It has been more than a week since the Australian GP and there is still more than 2 weeks until the Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Even without a race, Briana and Nicole have [potentially] too much fun on this week’s Grid Walk.Briana and Nicole were over the moon to find out that Celsius Energy Drink is the newest sponsor for Scuderia Ferrari. With Red Bull and Monster Energy already sponsoring Oracle Red Bull Racing and Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team respectively, has Formula 1 officially entered the era of the energy drink wars? How are energy drink sponsors similar to the days of big tobacco sponsors in F1? Will we see Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz reviewing Celsius Energy Drink flavors soon? What does Pepsi Co. have to do with Celsius Energy Drink and Formula 1?The Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix is just around the corner. The marketing for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix has really picked up, especially with their announced of the Miami Pit Crew. Does having a mascot work in F1? How does this introduction of the Pit Crew go against the luxurious vibes of the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix?Nicole was inspired by the Formula 1 video of drivers participating in the 5 Second Challenge. Nicole challenges Briana with multiple topics and she has 5 seconds to name 3 things within that category? Will Briana be able to keep up? More importantly, will Briana do better than the F1 drivers did?Also, someone please send Briana the Lewis Hamilton Monster Energy Drink collab. Thank you.Grid Walk is a weekly Formula 1 show that releases every Thursday. For daily F1 content follow @gridwalkshow on all social media platforms.

**Grid Vlog: Energy Drink Wars, Miami GP Mascots, and Five-Second Challenge**

* Briana L. Klein and Nicole Katz discuss the recent influx of energy drink sponsorships in Formula One, particularly the partnership between Celsius and Ferrari.
* Celsius, a relatively new energy drink brand, has experienced significant growth in recent years, particularly in the US market.
* The company's partnership with PepsiCo has provided it with a major distribution boost, making its products more widely available.
* Celsius' marketing strategy targets young, affluent, and active individuals, which aligns well with Ferrari's brand image and fan base.
* The deal between Celsius and Ferrari is seen as a significant development in the energy drink market, potentially marking the beginning of an "energy drink war" similar to the previous dominance of cigarette brands in F1 sponsorship.
* The podcast hosts also discuss the new mascots for the Miami Grand Prix, which are a group of pit crew members who perform synchronized dance routines during pit stops.
* Nicole challenges Briana to a five-second challenge, where she has to name as many Formula One drivers as possible in five seconds. Briana struggles with the challenge, highlighting the difficulty of the task.

* The introduction of energy drinks as title sponsors in Formula One has led to controversy.
* Red Bull has been the most prominent energy drink sponsor, with its own team and a long history in the sport.
* Other energy drink brands, such as Monster and Celsius, are also becoming more involved in Formula One.
* The energy drink market is growing rapidly, and this is likely to lead to even more investment in Formula One in the future.

**Miami Grand Prix Pit Crew**

* The Miami Grand Prix has introduced a new pit crew, consisting of four people in teal racing suits and Miami Vice-themed helmets.
* The pit crew has been met with mixed reactions, with some people finding it to be fun and silly, while others find it to be out of place in Formula One.
* The pit crew is part of the Miami Grand Prix's efforts to create a more unique and entertaining race weekend.

**Red Bull's Penalty for Breaking the Cost Cap**

* Red Bull was found to have breached the cost cap in 2021, and was penalized as a result.
* Ferrari's team principal, Fred Vasseur, believes that the penalty was not harsh enough.
* Ferrari has also appealed Carlos Sainz's penalty from the Australian Grand Prix.

**Other News and Notes**

* Alpine is rumored to be bringing significant upgrades to its car for the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.
* McLaren is revealing a special livery for the Indy 500 at the Long Beach Grand Prix.
* Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso has expressed his desire to win the Triple Crown, which consists of winning the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indianapolis 500, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
* Williams has announced a new chief revenue officer, who will be responsible for marketing and partnerships.
* Haas drivers Nico Hulkenberg and Kevin Magnussen have both announced new sponsorship deals.