Verstappen not the only target of boos in US?
F1 News
After Max Verstappen's victory at the Circuit of the Americas in the US GP weekend, boos could be heard from the audience during the podium ceremony. Possibly the boos were not (only) directed at the three-time F1 champion. Texas Governor Greg Abbott also appeared on stage at the same time.
Verstappen did not seem to have many fans in the stands in COTA as boos rang out from the crowd towards Verstappen when the trophies were handed out. During the interview, cheers were mostly heard immediately after the race when Jenson Button was talking to the winner of the US GP. This turned around when Verstappen stood on the podium's top step a few minutes later.
'Booing was not (only) for Verstappen'
NBCnews.com reports that the boos were not directed at Verstappen but at the governor of the state, Texas: "At the podium ceremony after the United States Grand Prix, loud boos filled the audience as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, presented the winner’s trophy to Verstappen."
People on social media, Reddit and X endorsed that the boos were directed at the unpopular Texas governor. An important note also made in social media comments is that fans booed Verstappen during the short trip from the pit lane up to the podium. So the boos were possibly directed at Verstappen but also towards the governor.
Verstappen reacted to the boos after the race and the ceremony and did not let the boos get to him. The Red Bull Racing driver had a grin on his face when asked about it and revealed he was not worried about it with the winner's trophy in his hand.