Corona Cero’s Relaxation Clause Brings a Fresh Perspective to Athlete Partnerships

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov 12, 2024--

Corona, the world’s most valuable beer brand, has introduced the ‘Relaxation Clause’, a new global initiative for all sponsorship agreements that ensures athletes dedicate time to relax and unwind as part of their contract with Corona Cero.

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The Relaxation Clause offers a new approach to partnerships that reflects the essence of Corona: encouraging people to experience more moments to unwind and connect with nature.

The unique initiative follows Corona Cero’s iconic sponsorship of the Olympic Games – the first-of-its kind for a global beer brand. The brand is incorporating this new term in all athlete agreements including Olympian Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina, who created the viral photo while competing, as well as medalists British cyclist Evie Richards, Brazilian surfer Tatiana Weston Webb, Chilean volleyball player Marco Grimalt, South African swimmer Tatjana Smith and Colombian BMX cyclist Mariana Pajón.

Designed to promote balance, the Relaxation Clause offers athletes flexibility so that they can integrate periods of relaxation into their lifestyle. The new term is expected to increase contracts by at least a week to incorporate relaxation time. Moving forward, the Relaxation Clause will be a priority for the brand’s talent partnerships.

“As an athlete it’s crucial to listen to your body and understand when it’s time to take a break and recharge your batteries,” said Gabriel Medina. “Corona Cero understands this and is putting the athlete first with the Relaxation Clause.”

“Corona believes in the importance of relaxation and balance, with a long history of inspiring people to relax more often and enjoy nature,” said Clarissa Pantoja, Vice President of Corona Global. “We’re so proud to introduce the Relaxation Clause in our sponsorships as it requires our ambassadors live our beliefs. With these new terms Corona continues to inspire people to disconnect and reconnect with nature, including our athlete partners who will now have down time with friends and family when they need it most.”

Available in over 40 markets, Corona Cero is helping to lead and grow the category by elevating the role of moderation globally. The brand brings the refreshing Corona taste consumers know and love while enhancing its iconic lime ritual no matter the occasion, creating more moments for connection, cheers, and choice.

About Corona Global

Corona, an AB InBev global brand*, is the iconic beer brand that is synonymous with paradise with a presence in 180 countries. Recognized as the world’s most valuable beer brand in Kantar’s BrandZ global 2024 rankings, Corona invites the world outside, beckoning you to reconnect with your essential nature and embrace the simple pleasures of life. But it's not just about the beer – it's about the ritual. The ritual of adding a slice of lime to your Corona, an experience that elevates the moment. Corona isn't just a beverage; it's nature in a bottle. And we strive to help protect nature and have become the first global beverage brand with a net-zero plastic footprint. This builds on our longstanding ambition to help protect the world’s oceans and beaches from plastic pollution. Every sip of Corona is a celebration of nature and the beauty of the world around us.

*Corona is not sold by AB InBev in the United States.

About Anheuser-Busch InBev

AB InBev is a publicly traded company (Euronext: ABI) based in Leuven, Belgium, with secondary listings on the Mexico (MEXBOL: ANB) and South Africa (JSE: ANH) stock exchanges and with American Depositary Receipts on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUD). As a company, we dream big to create a future with more cheers. We are always looking to serve up new ways to meet life’s moments, move our industry forward and make a meaningful impact in the world. We are committed to building great brands that stand the test of time and to brewing the best beers using the finest ingredients. Our diverse portfolio of well over 500 beer brands includes global brands Budweiser®, Corona®, Stella Artois® and Michelob Ultra®; multi-country brands Beck’s®, Hoegaarden® and Leffe®; and local champions such as Aguila®, Antarctica®, Bud Light®, Brahma®, Cass®, Castle®, Castle Lite®, Cristal®, Harbin®, Jupiler®, Modelo Especial®, Quilmes®, Victoria®, Sedrin®, and Skol®. Our brewing heritage dates back more than 600 years, spanning continents and generations. From our European roots at the Den Hoorn brewery in Leuven, Belgium. To the pioneering spirit of the Anheuser & Co brewery in St. Louis, US. To the creation of the Castle Brewery in South Africa during the Johannesburg gold rush. To Bohemia, the first brewery in Brazil. Geographically diversified with a balanced exposure to developed and developing markets, we leverage the collective strengths of approximately 155,000 colleagues based in nearly 50 countries worldwide. For 2023, AB InBev’s reported revenue was 59.4 billion USD (excluding JVs and associates).

Viral photo of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina (Photo: Business Wire)

South African swimmer Tatjana Smith signs the Relaxation Clause (Photo: Business Wire)

Chilean volleyball player Marco Grimalt sings the Relaxation Clause (Photo: Business Wire)

Colombian BMX cyclist Mariana Pajón signs the Relaxation Clause (Photo: Business Wire)

(Graphic: Business Wire)

Brazilian surfer Tatiana Weston Webb signs the Relaxation Clause (Photo: Business Wire)

British cyclist Evie Richards signs the Relaxation Clause (Photo: Business Wire)

Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina signs the Relaxation Clause (Photo: Business Wire)

NÜRBURG, Germany (AP) — Four-time Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen's chances of victory in his 24-hour racing debut at the famed Nürburgring track have been ended by an apparent mechanical issue with his car.

Verstappen had been leading Sunday morning by over half a minute, sharing a Mercedes AMG GT3 car with experienced sportscar racers Lucas Auer, Jules Gounon and Dani Juncadella.

Juncadella had just taken over from Verstappen when he had to slow down with an issue affecting the rear-right of the car and lost the lead before pulling into the pit lane. The car had not returned from the garage after an hour.

Coming a week before F1 returns at the Canadian Grand Prix, the Nürburgring race was a “bucket list” project for Verstappen. He's a keen racing fan and has questioned his future in F1 this year because he's unhappy with the 2026 cars' reliance on electrical power.

Verstappen made an immediate impact in his first stint Saturday evening with a fast, aggressive style typical of his driving in F1, going from 10th to the lead with a series of overtakes. At one point, he lost grip over a bump and ran wide onto the grass, narrowly missing the barrier and he was later in a close battle for the lead overnight.

Verstappen was familiar with the Nürburgring after taking part in a series of shorter races in recent months to add to his years of virtual experience from realistic online simulator races.

It was still a challenge unlike anything in F1.

With 161 cars spread out along a 15.8-mile circuit, Verstappen had to weave past much slower cars and deal with constantly changing weather conditions on a hilly track where it can be raining hard at one point and dry at another.

It was also his first real test of night-time endurance racing without the huge floodlights that F1 uses to light up the track.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Max Verstappen stands in his pit before the start of a pit stop and observes the work during the Nurburgring 24-hour auto race in Nurburg, Germany, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)

The pit crew works on Max Verstappen's Mercedes AMG GT3 car during the Nurburgring 24-hour auto race in Nurburg, Germany, Saturday, May 16, 2026. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)

Daniel Juncadella, right, helps his teammate Max Verstappen to get into the car during a pit stop the Nurburgring 24-hour auto race in Nurburg, Germany, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)

Max Verstappen, driving the Red Bull Mercedes AMG GT3, flashes his his headlights as he demands a clear path from a slower vehicle during the Nurburgring 24-hour auto race in Nurburg, Germany, Saturday May 16, 2026. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)

The pit crew works on the leading Max Verstappen's Mercedes AMG GT3 car, right, as it completes a pit stop at the same time as the second-placed Mercedes-AMG Team RAVENOL with Germany's Maro Engel, Germany's Luca Stolz, Germany's Fabian Schiller and Germany's Maxime Martin, during the Nurburgring 24-hour auto race in Nurburg, Germany, Sunday, May 17, 2026. (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP)