Sen. Ted Cruz received an unexpected reception in his home state Sunday when Formula 1 fans erupted in loud boos as he stepped onto the winner’s podium at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.
The Texas Republican, 55, was on hand at the Circuit of the Americas on October 25 to present the first-place trophy to Italian racing sensation Andrea Kimi Antonelli. But what was supposed to be a celebratory moment quickly became an uncomfortable scene as spectators made their displeasure with Cruz unmistakably clear.
Video footage circulating on social media captured the boos ringing out as Cruz appeared onstage. The jeering continued during the trophy presentation, creating a striking contrast when the crowd burst into cheers as Antonelli raised his prize in celebration.
EVERYONE JUST BOO’D THE FUCK OUT OF TED CRUZ, THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE LMFAOOOOOO https://t.co/KU1vRISYhk
— Riley 🏎️ ⊃∪∩⪽ 🍉 @ COTA!! (@rileyanntoine) October 25, 2026
The reaction was loud enough to attract attention from the television commentary team. Sky Sports F1 announcer David Croft referenced the upcoming midterm elections, remarking that spectators were already “voting with their voice.”
The incident quickly attracted attention online, with viewers sharing footage of the ceremony and weighing in on the senator’s reception.
Italian journalist Antonello Guerrera of la Repubblica described the moment as embarrassing for Cruz, while other social media users pointed to the dramatic change in the crowd’s reaction once the trophy was in Antonelli’s hands.
Despite the distraction, the afternoon marked a major achievement for the 20-year-old Mercedes driver. Antonelli secured his ninth victory of the 2026 season, finishing more than 13 seconds ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen completed the podium in third place.
Cruz, meanwhile, offered a positive account of the event afterward, revealing that he had attended with his daughter, Caroline.
“Incredible day at the Austin Grand Prix with Caroline. Perfect Dad-daughter afternoon,” Cruz wrote on X. He congratulated Antonelli and described presenting the winning trophy as an honor.
The senator’s appearance also came just weeks after another Austin sports crowd gave him a similarly hostile reception.
On September 12, Cruz joined ESPN’s College GameDay at the University of Texas to discuss proposed legislation regulating college athletics. During his interview with host Rece Davis, football fans repeatedly booed and shouted chants, including “Ted, you suck,” making portions of the televised conversation difficult to hear.
That appearance was intended to promote the bipartisan Protect College Sports Act, but the crowd’s reaction became a major talking point.
Now, the Formula 1 incident has brought Cruz another round of unwanted attention at a high-profile sporting event in Texas, with the widely shared footage capturing the sharp difference between the boos directed at the senator and the cheers reserved for the race winner.
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