The Internet Is Loving Shaq’s Appearance at the US Grand Prix

The basketball legend arrived in style and finished on the podium.

Red Bull driver Max Verstappen extended his lead over defending champion Lewis Hamilton in yesterday’s United States Formula 1 Grand Prix but it’s the appearance of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal that is stealing all the headlines.

The NBA icon was at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas to present the winning driver trophy and he made sure he made his moment in the spotlight count.

After the race was complete, Shaq was driven towards the podium in a massive Cadillac convertible with longhorns on top, and if that isn’t peak Texas, then I don’t know what is.

Honestly, it looks like a lounge room on wheels.

Now that's how you arrive to a podium, in style 🤩#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 @SHAQ pic.twitter.com/ZCCxXRG14K

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2021

Even if the race was a shitter (which it wasn't), Shaq arriving to deliver the winner's trophy in a massive Cadillac with huge longhorns instantly makes this the greatest race of all time

— Danny (@DannyBrennan72) October 24, 2021

That was only part one of Shaq’s headline-making appearance though, with the four-time NBA champion drawing fans’ attention when he joined Verstappen, Hamilton, and third-place Sergio Perez on the podium during the Dutch national anthem.

For context, the person who presents the trophies to the drivers stands to one side while the anthems play before being called upon.

In Shaq’s case though, he planted himself right between Verstappen and Hamilton, making it look like he’d just won his first F1 race.

Not missing a beat, Twitter erupted with congratulations for Shaq and celebrated the NBA great’s successful career transition to motorsport.

Here are some of our favourite picks:

Correction: @SHAQ wins the #USGP ahead of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen 👏 pic.twitter.com/dsOkRwHSne

— WTF1 (@wtf1official) October 24, 2021

Simply sublime drive from Shaquille O’Neal today to take tied 2nd with Hamilton! Verstappen had a bit too much, but nobody else had an answer for the Shaq Attack pic.twitter.com/3lNHn9GlZg

— Motorsport Banter (@MSportBanter) October 24, 2021

Congratulations to Shaq on his F1 podium pic.twitter.com/D1RoxwJlg8

— Alanis King (@alanisnking) October 24, 2021

Side note, these photos of Shaq are a great reminder of just how tall the basketballer is. Even with a podium, he towers of Hamilton.

Shaq is still taller than Lewis even though he's on a podium 😭 pic.twitter.com/cZDjTpft4g

— ESPN F1 (@ESPNF1) October 24, 2021

No way is Shaq nearly the same height as Max who is 1st on the podium

— Matt Gallagher (@MattyWTF1) October 24, 2021

Oh, and shout out to whichever legend mocked this one up. We see you.

Who did this?! 😂#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1 @SHAQ pic.twitter.com/vJZnPmbdhW

— Formula 1 (@F1) October 24, 2021

Elsewhere on the circuit, Shaq wasn’t the only celeb taking the limelight. Rapper Megan Thee Stallion was spotted walking the grid before the start of the race and legendary F1 commentator couldn’t help but try to snag an interview.

Undeterred by her entourage of bodyguards and handlers, Brundle pushed his way in to get a few words from her.

“You’re a freestyle rapper, have you got any rap for us today on Formula 1?” asked Brundle.

“I have no rap today, I’m sorry” Megan Thee Stallion responds before her handler pushes him away and says you can’t ask that.

Watch the full exchange below here, it’s awkwardly beautiful.

The Martin Brundle x Megan Thee Stallion collab

This is too funny pic.twitter.com/Bq9DJ1kQg7

— Adam (@Adam_Palace) October 24, 2021

Martin Brundle: “who do you want to win?”

Megan Thee Stallion entourage: … pic.twitter.com/eZ8JXeQ9A1

— Gerold Hightower (@GeroldHightowe4) October 24, 2021

Man, I love it when Brits and Americans interact.

Header Image: Sky Sports