Danica Patrick knows how to make headlines, whether it’s for her sharp takes as a Formula 1 pundit, glamorous Instagram updates, or her fiery personality. Her recent trip to Abu Dhabi for the F1 season finale was no exception. What started as an exciting adventure soon turned into a memorable saga involving a painful coffee mishap and her outspoken reaction to a global coffee giant.

Fans were quick to notice Patrick’s Instagram stories documenting the incident—and her unfiltered thoughts on the matter.

Coffee Chaos in Abu Dhabi

Danica’s Abu Dhabi trip took a painful detour thanks to a scalding hot Starbucks coffee spill that left her with serious burns. In true Patrick style, she didn’t hold back when sharing her frustration on Instagram. Posting a photo of her injury, she captioned it: “Starbucks Americano burn update. Day…. I don’t know I’m in Abu Dhabi, 6?! Looking a little better. Thanks silver cream. And @brooke_selman for being a burn boss. And f u Starbucks.”

This wasn’t her first mention of the incident. Days earlier, she had shared a photo of the fresh burn, flipping the bird emoji at Starbucks and writing, “Day 1 coffee burn…Starbucks🖕🏻, I mean – 1…Me – 0 ☠️.” The post included a poll asking followers if they agreed that Starbucks’ hot water was “way the h*ll too hot.” Unsurprisingly, many sympathized with her plight while others pointed out the brand’s history of serving beverages at scalding temperatures.

Patrick’s association with coffee runs deep, making the incident even more ironic. Back in her hometown of Roscoe, Illinois, her parents co-owned a cafe called Meg’s Daily Grind, where a drink named “Danica’s Lucky Charm” paid tribute to her racing legacy. Whether she was nostalgic for those days or simply frustrated, Patrick’s fiery words aimed squarely at Starbucks didn’t go unnoticed.

While her leg might be healing, Danica’s F1 commentary is still a sore spot for fans. The buzz over her Starbucks saga was matched only by the backlash she faced as a pundit during the season. And this time, it got louder after the announcement that F1 legend Damon Hill was stepping away from Sky Sports. Fans weren’t exactly thrilled that Hill was leaving while Danica Patrick was staying. The critiques of Danica aren’t new. While some fans appreciate her perspective as a former driver, others feel her insights lack the depth expected for F1’s increasingly savvy audience.

Mixed reviews on the mic

One example of her subpar work they pointed to was a particular clip of her alongside Karun Chandok live on the Sky Sports broadcast for the Mexican Grand Prix this year. As is usual for the pundits, she was supposed to run the fans through a lap of the track, instead; she fumbled her way through for what seemed like an eternity, with Chandok at some point having to step in and take the reins.

While one can sympathize with Patrick, fans expect higher quality from a media outlet as reputed as Sky Sports, but she’s given the naysayers a lot more bone to chew on. In one particularly controversial moment was her suggestion that F1’s aggressive nature isn’t “normal in a feminine mind.” Let’s just say, that hasn’t exactly aged well. Her critics also pointed to the contrast between her podcast, Pretty Intense, and F1’s sustainability goals. Hosting guests with questionable views on climate change doesn’t sit well in a sport pushing hard for carbon neutrality.

Her return to F1 has been quite eventful so far. When F1 headed to Las Vegas for one of its marquee United States races, Patrick was along for the ride. She impressed fans with an extreme stunt with her Sky Sports colleagues as they jumped out of a helicopter when making their entrance into Las Vegas. This was a unique experience not just for presenters but for F1 fans, who rarely get to see such stunts take place around races. Perhaps her daredevil side is what makes her the perfect twist to bring to the F1 world.

Regardless, Patrick’s presence appeals to F1’s growing U.S. audience. With races in Austin, Miami, and Vegas, having an American face on the broadcast makes sense for Sky Sports. But for many long-time fans, her celebrity status doesn’t outweigh what they see as a lack of substance.

Love her or not, Danica Patrick knows how to keep things interesting—whether it’s her commentary or her ability to turn a coffee spill into a global talking point.