Before dwarfing Lewis Hamilton on podium Shaquille O’Neal lifted ex F1 driver as a trophy

Before dwarfing Lewis Hamilton on podium Shaquille O’Neal lifted ex F1 driver winner as a trophy

Shaquille O’Neal has been a very popular figure among F1 fans over the last few years, because of his involvement in the sport. The NBA legend is one of the biggest sporting names in the world, and the spotlight is always on him when he travels to watch an F1 race. At last year’s US Grand Prix in Austin, the 7″1 former center stood next to Lewis Hamilton, and completely dwarfed him.

There were plenty of memes and pictures circulated on social media after the podium celebrations in Austin. Hamilton finished the race in second, and so was P2 on the podium but O’Neal wasn’t even standing on the podium. Still, the former LA Lakers player stood tall (just about!) However, that wasn’t the first time O’Neal’s relatively huge size to F1 drivers was on display.

Back in 2001, O’Neal was in the prime of his basketball career and was playing for the Lakers. That year, he attended an F1 race where he dwarfed German F1 driver Nick Heidfeld. In fact, the 15-time NBA all-star piked Heidfeld up like a trophy with ease!

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Shaquille O’Neal watches F1 only for Lewis Hamilton

O’Neal won over the internet at the 2021 US Grand Prix during the podium celebrations. The very next year too, he made a comment that Hamilton fans in particular will love to hear. O’Neal arrived at the Circuit of the Americas as a DJ for the 2022 installment of the US GP, and a reporter asked him, “How big of an F1 are you?”

O’Neal’s answer was short, sweet and he won over the internet once again. The two words he replied with were, “Lewis Hamilton.” Hamilton is one of F1’s greatest ever, but he’s also very popular among other celebrities and athletes.

The seven-time World Champion has plenty of admirers in the US other than O’Neal. Sporting legends like Serena Williams and Tom Brady are huge fans of the Mercedes ace as they’ve stated on several occasions in the past. Hence, it’s no surprises that O’Neal’s favorite driver in F1 is Hamilton too.

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Post Edited By: Samriddhi Jaiswal
Lewis Hamilton Nick Heidfeld Shaquille O'Neal

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Somin Bhattacharjee

Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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