PUBLICIS PRODUCTION AND LEO INDIA CLINCH CLIO GRAND AWARD FOR STING ENERGY

Publicis Production India, in partnership with Leo India, has won the 2026 Clio Grand Award for Sting Energy’s Formula 1-inspired campaign. Delivered in just three days, the activation featured Armin van Buuren discovering F1 engines sound like “Sting,” cementing PepsiCo’s bold global brand footprint and creative leadership.  

Publicis Production India has once again demonstrated its ability to deliver world-class creative at scale, securing the 2026 Clio Grand Award in partnership with Leo India for Sting Energy’s ambitious Formula 1-linked campaign. The accolade, one of the most prestigious in the advertising industry, highlights the team’s capacity to combine speed, innovation, and cultural resonance in a way that elevates both brand and creative reputation.  

The campaign was conceived to strengthen Sting Energy’s global footprint and deepen its association with the high-octane world of Formula 1. Led creatively by Leo India, the activation was executed in close collaboration with PepsiCo, with Rajdeepak Das serving as the lead production partner. Together, the teams orchestrated one of Sting’s largest activation campaigns to date, delivering a suite of assets that captured the brand’s bold, youthful energy.  

Remarkably, the entire production cycle — from initial shoot through to post-production — was completed in just three days. This rapid turnaround underscored the agility and precision of Publicis Production India’s operations, proving that scale and speed can coexist without sacrificing quality. The campaign’s centrepiece was a hero film featuring global DJ Armin van Buuren, who playfully “discovered” that the roar of Formula 1 engines sounded like the word “Sting.” This creative conceit not only tied the brand to the thrill of F1 but also reinforced Sting’s positioning as a daring, energetic drink for a new generation.  

The Clio Grand Award win is more than a creative milestone; it is a testament to India’s growing influence in the global advertising landscape. For Publicis Production India and Leo India, the recognition validates their ability to deliver campaigns that resonate internationally while maintaining cultural nuance and creative originality. For PepsiCo, the campaign represents a strategic leap in brand-building, aligning Sting Energy with the glamour and adrenaline of Formula 1 to capture audiences worldwide.  

Industry observers note that such achievements reflect a broader trend: Indian creative teams are increasingly shaping global narratives, blending local ingenuity with international ambition. The Sting Energy campaign exemplifies this shift, demonstrating how Indian talent can deliver work that not only wins awards but also drives business impact on a global stage.  

As Publicis Production India celebrates this victory, the campaign stands as a benchmark for future collaborations between agencies and brands seeking to balance speed, creativity and scale. It is a reminder that in today’s fast-moving media environment, the ability to deliver bold ideas quickly and effectively is as critical as the ideas themselves.