National, 23rd June 2026: Sting Energy® has won a Silver Lion in the Audio & Radio category at Cannes Lions 2026, one of the most fiercely contested categories at this year’s festival, with more than 50 shortlisted entries from markets around the world. The win recognises “The Unofficial Sound of F1” – a campaign built around a viral fan discovery: that the roar of a Formula 1® engine sounds uncannily like the word “Sting.” What began as an online observation grew into a campaign that turned a piece of sonic culture into a distinctive brand asset for Sting.
The Audio & Radio Lions celebrate the power of sound as a creative medium, rewarding work that uses sonic and audio excellence to create real impact — culturally resonant storytelling, local insight, humour and breakthrough thinking that plays to the unique strengths of the medium.
Recently, Sting took the idea even further – partnering with global DJ and producer Alan Walker to turn it into “The Sting Within Me”, an original track inspired by the raw sounds of Formula 1®, that debuted live during the Barcelona Grand Prix weekend in front of thousands of fans.
Vikram Pandey & Sachin Kamble – Chief Creative Officers, Leo South Asia, shared, “This award is incredibly special for us as this was our first global project with PepsiCo. For our very first collaboration to be recognized at Cannes is a wonderful validation of the partnership we’ve built and the ambition we share to create work that pushes creative boundaries. Congratulations to the amazing teams at both PepsiCo and Leo on this win.”
About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated nearly $94 billion in net revenue in 2025, driven by a complementary beverage and convenient foods portfolio that includes Lay’s, Doritos, Cheetos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Mountain Dew, Quaker, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and drinks, including many iconic brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.
Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Beverages and Convenient Foods by Winning with pep+ (PepsiCo Positive). pep+ is our strategic end-to-end transformation that places sustainability at the center of our business strategy, seeking to drive growth and build a stronger, more resilient future for PepsiCo and the communities where we operate. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com, and follow on X (Twitter), Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @PepsiCo.
