Ted Cruz Was Booed Presenting the Winner's Trophy at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin
The Texas senator handed Kimi Antonelli his winner's trophy at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday to loud boos that flipped to cheers the moment the driver lifted it — then called the presentation an honor, without mentioning the reception.
Sen. Ted Cruz drew loud boos from the crowd at Formula 1's U.S. Grand Prix in Austin on Sunday when he presented the winner's trophy to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli at Circuit of the Americas, according to OK Magazine's report on the ceremony. The boos began when the announcer called Cruz's name and continued until he took his hands off the trophy, when they turned to cheers for Antonelli.
Broadcast footage captured the reaction, and Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft remarked on air, as reported by OK Magazine: "Midterms are coming up. People are already voting with their voice." Attendees posted clips of the moment on social media, including la Repubblica reporter Antonello Guerrera, who described the senator as "brutally booed by the Austin crowd on the F1 podium."
Cruz did not comment on the boos. In a post on X afterward, he wrote: "Incredible day at the Austin Grand Prix with Caroline. Perfect Dad-daughter afternoon. The eyes of the racing world were on Texas. Congrats to Kimi Antonelli on a huge win. It was an honor to present the championship trophy." Cruz also presented the trophies to the other podium finishers, Ferrari's Charles Leclerc and Red Bull's Max Verstappen, and WNBA player Sophie Cunningham waved the checkered flag as Antonelli crossed the finish line, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Cruz, a Republican, has represented Texas in the U.S. Senate since 2013. He is not on the ballot in the midterm elections set for Tuesday, November 3 — a week after the Austin crowd made its feelings heard at the state's biggest racing weekend.
