Key Points
- When Apple's CEO Tim Cook stepped up to the finishing line, no one could have anticipated the backlash.
- Cook's lacklustre approach to waving the final flag has become an instant meme online.
From throwing the first pitch at baseball games, to performing a ceremonial kick-off at football matches, sporting events often call on celebrities to help out.
But in the case of the flag waving at Formula 1's United States Grand Prix, it might have been better left to the professionals.
When Apple CEO Tim Cook stepped up to the finishing line on Monday Australian time, no one could have anticipated the backlash to follow.
Mr Cook's performance on the final lap at Austin's Circuit of the Americas has been targeted by thousands of Twitter users, with his lacklustre approach to waving the final flag becoming an instant meme online.
He was even criticised by commentators, with Sky Sports' Ted Kravitz describing Cook's effort as "possibly the worst chequered flag waving in Formula 1 history".
The waving of the chequered flag is normally performed with much more enthusiasm.
Some online are comparing Cook's tame effort to this first pitch by US rapper 50 cent during a Major League Baseball game in 2014.
