Ed Sheeran, Shaquille O’Neal, Brad Pitt and Apple CEO Tim Cook lead the star names at US Grand Prix

Estimated read time 4 min read


The stars were out in force in Austin on Sunday as thousands of Formula One fans descended on the Circuit of the Americas for a high-octane United States Grand Prix.

Brad Pitt, Ed Sheeran, Shaquille O’Neal and Apple CEO Tim Cook were all trackside for the F1 race, to watch the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen go toe-to-toe around the circuit.

It was a complete sell-out to the public, too, with a record 440,000 fans heading for the Austin circuit across the entire race weekend, as F1 fever continued to rise stateside.

Legendary Oscar-nominated actor Pitt was present across the entire weekend, and was pictured in the Mercedes garage on Sunday, where he greeted his good friend Hamilton alongside Apple CEO Cook.

Popstar Sheeran, meanwhile, was at the racetrack after performing for the Austin crowds after the qualifying session on Saturday, and he spoke to Sky’s Martin Brundle on the grid ahead of the race.

Ed Sheeran (right) poses with Sergio Perez and Red Bull chief Christian Horner (left) in the paddock before the Grand Prix race

Ed Sheeran (right) poses with Sergio Perez and Red Bull chief Christian Horner (left) in the paddock before the Grand Prix race

Lewis Hamilton hugs Brad Pitt (center) as the 12 Years A Slave actor and Apple CEO Tim Cook (right) wait to meet him

Lewis Hamilton hugs Brad Pitt (center) as the 12 Years A Slave actor and Apple CEO Tim Cook (right) wait to meet him

Pitt has been at the United States Grand Prix all weekend, attending Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and the Sunday race

Pitt has been at the United States Grand Prix all weekend, attending Friday practice, Saturday qualifying and the Sunday race

Basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal pays a visit to the Williams garage ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas

Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal pays a visit to the Williams garage ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas

Sheeran also posed for photos with world champion Max Verstappen (right) and his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase

Sheeran also posed for photos with world champion Max Verstappen (right) and his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase

‘It’s fun, innit,’ he said, ‘A new experience,’ before speaking about his show the previous night: ‘My first big show in America in five years, so I’m super excited to be back. I’m cheering for Red Bull now, as I’ve just met them.’ 

The Ipswich-born singer was pictured ahead of the race with Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez, as well as Red Bull chief Christian Horner and his wife Geri – formerly of the Spice Girls.

Tre Cool, the Green Day drummer, was also present on the track and joked: ‘We’re here to support the green team, Aston Martin… because they’re green!’ 

In the race itself, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz started at the front, with world champion Verstappen alongside him in second. Behind them, Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and George Russell made up third and fourth. 

Apple CEO Cook walks through the paddock ahead of Sunday's huge race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas

Apple CEO Cook walks through the paddock ahead of Sunday’s huge race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas

British singer Sheeran (center, pictured with Christian and Geri Horner) performed for the Austin crowd on Saturday night

British singer Sheeran (center, pictured with Christian and Geri Horner) performed for the Austin crowd on Saturday night

Hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans packed the grandstands at COTA across the weekend as F1 fever landed in Texas

Hundreds of thousands of motorsport fans packed the grandstands at COTA across the weekend as F1 fever landed in Texas

Selling Sunset reality TV star Mary Fitzgerald and her boyfriend Romain Bonnet stand in the Red Bull garage before the race

Selling Sunset reality TV star Mary Fitzgerald and her boyfriend Romain Bonnet stand in the Red Bull garage before the race

Canadian actor Will Arnett - famous for playing Gob Bluth in Arrested Development - was another of the big names present

Canadian actor Will Arnett – famous for playing Gob Bluth in Arrested Development – was another of the big names present

Irish actress Eve Hewson, daughter of U2 legend Bono, poses alongside her brother John and the two AlphaTauri drivers

Irish actress Eve Hewson, daughter of U2 legend Bono, poses alongside her brother John and the two AlphaTauri drivers

Mercedes star and seven-time world champion Hamilton waves to fans at COTA ahead of the race, which he started third

Mercedes star and seven-time world champion Hamilton waves to fans at COTA ahead of the race, which he started third

Daniel Ricciardo - a self-confessed lover of America - made himself a fan favorite by wearing a Texas shirt ahead of the race

Daniel Ricciardo – a self-confessed lover of America – made himself a fan favorite by wearing a Texas shirt ahead of the race

TikTok star Daniel Mac, who has over 10million followers on the platform, poses with Red Bull driver Sergio Perez on Sunday

TikTok star Daniel Mac, who has over 10million followers on the platform, poses with Red Bull driver Sergio Perez on Sunday

Mick Schumacher, Haas driver and son of the legendary Michael, walks past the Texans cheerleaders ahead of the race

Mick Schumacher, Haas driver and son of the legendary Michael, walks past the Texans cheerleaders ahead of the race

Ex-Formula One driver Jenson Button was also present at the track in a media capacity, working for British television

Ex-Formula One driver Jenson Button was also present at the track in a media capacity, working for British television



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