US GP fans boo F1 champion Max Verstappen on podium after beating Lewis Hamilton to win
Max Verstappen won the US GP over Lewis Hamilton but was loudly booed by fans in Austin as some chanted Sergio Perez’s name throughout the post-race podium ceremony
After defeating Lewis Hamilton to win the US Grand Prix, Max Verstappen was loudly jeered as he stood on the podium.
Although Hamilton was closing quickly, the Dutchman had to work very hard to win his 50th Formula One race in Austin. But the British competitor simply ran out of laps and was forced to settle for second place, just behind the victor.
Verstappen, however, was not a well-liked victor. As he ascended to the top step of the podium in Texas, a chorus of jeers erupted, and they grew louder when he received his trophy.
And when the Dutch national anthem was played, some chanted the name of his team-mate Sergio Perez over the top of it. Texas borders with Mexico and so Perez is a very popular man among the locals.
The unhappiness among the fans appeared to be a mixture of those who support Perez and those who were cheering on Hamilton, who is also a huge figure in the US. The seven-time world champion was given a huge roar when he received his own trophy for finishing second.
It comes a year after Verstappen received more rough treatment from fans at the Circuit of the Americas ahead of the 2022 edition of this race. That event was overshadowed by news that Red Bull hade failed to comply with F1 budget cap rules the previous year.
Some fans targeted Verstappen as he made an appearance at a fan event prior to the race weekend. As the Dutchman was introduced and congratulated for securing back-to-back titles, there was a loud chorus of boos from some of those gathered by the stage.
Video also showed them chanting, “Cheater, cheater, cheater,” but Verstappen made no attempt to respond and the event went on as scheduled. The event’s other spectators enthusiastically applauded the Dutchman in support.
But this time, it seemed like there was more of a one-sided booing. All those present at the podium ceremony could clearly hear them, as could fans watching at home thanks to TV microphones that picked up the noise.
