--- title: "Apple CEO Tim Cook Performs Lamest Flag Wave in the History of F1" description: "The waving of the checkered flag at a [Formula 1 race]() is something exciting! Cars speeding by, [engines roaring](), people cheering on their favorite drivers. It's a magical moment when emotions run high. Heck, even fireworks are set off to…" date: "2022-10-24" modified: "2022-10-24" authors: - name: "Jerry Perez" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/jerry-perez" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/apple-ceo-tim-cook-performs-lamest-flag-wave-in-the-history-of-f1" categories: - "F1" - "News" - "Racing" --- # Apple CEO Tim Cook Performs Lamest Flag Wave in the History of F1 ![]() *\F1/YouTube\* The waving of the checkered flag at a [Formula 1 race]() is something exciting! Cars speeding by, [engines roaring](), people cheering on their favorite drivers. It's a magical moment when emotions run high. Heck, even fireworks are set off to mark the end of a motorized gladiator match. It appears no one—*literally no one*—told [Apple CEO Tim Cook]() this while at the [U.S. F1 Grand Prix]() last Sunday. VIP and celebrity guests are often invited by Liberty Media to raise the profile of key races during the F1 season, and many of these get to wave the checkered flag. These honorary flag wavers are typically excited ([sometimes too excited]()) when it's time to commemorate the end of the race. But not Cook. When it came time for the tech executive to perform the one job he had been invited to do, he did so with as much energy as a Snorlax. Yeah, *that* Snorlax—the Pokemon that's always [sleeping](). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-37NckyJhg F1's global feed zoomed in on Cook as [Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton]() crossed the finish line, marking a momentous occasion for the sport in the U.S. Not only was Austin's Circuit of the Americas celebrating its 10th anniversary as the host of the United States F1 Grand Prix, but Verstappen had also managed to clinch the [manufacturers' championship for Red Bull Racing](). Cook, however, was less than enthused, looking like he could just sit down and take a nap on the spot. And shall we discuss his flag-waving technique? It's unclear if F1 offers flag-waving lessons to these special guests, but if they don't, they really should. Listen, all I'm saying is that if something like this happened at the [Indy 500](), heads would roll. The flag waver stand is hallowed ground, and the act of waving the flag—green or checkered—is sacred. This is how you wave a flag, in case you're curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7YohNgghTQ Maybe Cook partied really hard the night before and he was overly tired come Sunday, or maybe F1 isn't exciting enough for him. We'll never know. Chances are he's back in Cupertino now playing fetch with his robot iDogs. Hopefully, he can throw a ball harder than he can wave a flag. *Got a tip? Email us at tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Jerry is responsible for upholding The Drive's ethos as an audience-first, enthusiast-driven car blog that serves up industry-leading news, reviews, culture, and motorsport coverage. Overseeing a staff of writers and editors from his home base in Indianapolis, he helps curate the site's daily rundown, as well as its medium- and long-term content strategies. Jerry joined The Drive in 2018 as a writer and worked as news editor and managing editor before becoming the deputy in 2023. As a lifelong car enthusiast and racing fan, Jerry believes that all cars are cool, but the people behind the machines are even cooler. This belief often gives The Drive a slightly different focus from most other car sites, where we explore the humanity behind the machines. When he's not obsessing over the day's biggest stories or hanging out at a race track, Jerry can be found behind the wheel of a car, most likely sharing a laugh with his teenage son or daughter. ### Author social links [Instagram]()