F1 fans boo Ted Cruz, question Sophie Cunningham's Austin appearance
There was a buzz toward the end of the U.S. Grand Prix.
In Austin, Texas, at the Circuit of the Americas, Formula One U.S. Grand Prix took place on October 25, 2026. One of the highlights of the event was Sophie Cunningham, a WNBA player and political figure, who served as the ceremonial flag bearer. Cunningham, known for her stance against transgender women in women's sports, made her presence felt during the race.
She arrived at the track wearing a cowboy hat with the inscription "YEE MF HAW" and was later introduced as the flag bearer. During the race, Cunningham waved the black-and-white chequered flag as Italy's Kimi Antonelli crossed the finish line, securing her position in the championship. However, the decision to have Senator Ted Cruz present the trophy proved to be controversial.
As Cruz handed Antonelli the prize, the Austin crowd loudly booed the Republican senator, who is also a Trump supporter. The initial boos quickly turned into cheers once the trophy was raised by Antonelli.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
