Antonelli wins Austin F1 race while Cruz endures podium jeers

The air at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, turned against the visitor from Washington.

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz stood on the podium Sunday to present the trophy to Mercedes driver Kimi Antonelli, the winner of the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix. The crowd erupted in loud, sustained booing as Cruz approached the winner.

The jeers lasted approximately ninety seconds before shifting to cheers once the senator handed the trophy to Antonelli. The change in volume signaled that the disapproval was directed at the politician rather than the race result. David "Crofty" Croft, a Formula One commentator for Sky Sports, noted on the live broadcast that the midterms are approaching and people are voting with their voices.

Cruz is not on the ballot for the upcoming midterm elections. He has not confirmed plans for a second presidential bid, yet political observers say he is already campaigning for the office. The senator was also booed earlier in the day when he was announced as a dignitary for the event, according to social media posts from people in the crowd.

This incident marks a continuation of a recent trend for Cruz. He faced similar boos during a September 12 appearance on ESPN’s College Game Day. The show aired ahead of a Texas Longhorns football game against Ohio State. Cruz promoted the Protect College Sports Act during that interview.

The bill has since passed the Senate and awaits final approval in the House. Critics argue the legislation caps student athlete earnings and prevents them from unionizing or engaging in collective bargaining.

Cruz did not mention the boos in a Sunday post on X. He described the outing as a perfect dad-daughter afternoon with his daughter Caroline. He called it an honor to present the championship trophy and congratulated Antonelli on a huge win.