Strongman Mitchell Hooper Lifts F1 Driver Yuki Tsunoda in Playful Display
AUSTIN â The worlds of motorsport and strength athletics collided in lively fashion Thursday night when Worldâs Strongest Man Mitchell Hooper hoisted Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda into the air during an informal athlete meet-up at an Austin padel court. The light-hearted moment, captured on social media by attendees, quickly went viral, drawing laughter from fans and admiration for the unlikely duoâs camaraderie ahead of the United States Grand Prix weekend.
Hooper, who clinched the Worldâs Strongest Man title in 2023 and again in 2024, was seen smiling as he effortlessly lifted the smaller Tsunoda â known for his quick reflexes and spirited personality â onto his shoulders before performing light presses. The demonstration, both humorous and impressive, highlighted the strength disparity between the Canadian powerhouse and the 24-year-old Japanese Formula 1 driver, who competes for the VCARB team, Red Bullâs sister outfit.
A Lighthearted Moment Ahead of a Competitive Weekend
Both athletes were in Austin preparing for major events in their respective sports. Tsunoda, who stands 1.59 meters tall and weighs around 60 kilograms, was taking a brief break from intensive pre-race preparations at Circuit of the Americas, where the U.S. Grand Prix is set to take place Sunday. Hooper, visiting Texas for a separate strength exhibition and charity event, was among several elite athletes invited to an evening of social activities organized by local sponsors and sports promoters.
According to onlookers, Tsunoda laughed throughout the impromptu display and shouted mock protests as Hooper balanced him on his shoulders. Videos of the moment spread rapidly across social media platforms, with fans dubbing it âThe worldâs strongest lift meets the worldâs fastest reflexes.â
âI felt like a dumbbell,â Tsunoda later joked in a short video post. âHe could probably lift the car too!â
The Global Appeal of Crossover Sports Moments
Scenes like this â spontaneous, unscripted interactions between athletes from different disciplines â have become a staple of modern sports entertainment. In recent years, high-profile exchanges between formula drivers, NFL players, and strongmen have generated millions of views online, widening public appeal beyond traditional fan bases.
Hooper, known for his affable personality and approachable demeanor, frequently participates in promotional events showcasing strength in non-competitive settings. His philosophy emphasizes making strength sports more accessible. âItâs about showing that strength doesnât have to be intimidating,â Hooper has said in past interviews. âItâs something to be celebrated â a universal expression of human performance.â
For Tsunoda, the encounter provided a personal break amid the relentless pressures of Formula 1. The 2025 season has been a challenging one for the Japanese driver, balancing team development duties within the VCARB outfit while competing against the sportâs dominant top-tier rivals. Moments of levity like these remind fans that even world-class athletes benefit from relaxation and humor between races.
Two Disciplines, One Shared Spirit
Though separated by sport, Hooper and Tsunoda share strikingly similar mental disciplines. Strongman competitions demand sustained focus, technical precision, and the ability to respond under pressure â the same traits that define elite Formula 1 drivers. Both sports require meticulous physical conditioning and mental resilience, albeit in vastly different contexts.
Hooperâs rise in the strongman world has been nothing short of meteoric. Having transitioned from physical therapy into strength competition only a few years prior, he has quickly established himself as one of the most dominant figures in modern strongman history. His victories in global events such as Europeâs Strongest Man and the Arnold Strongman Classic marked him as the new face of the sport, combining brute strength with scientific training methods.
Tsunodaâs career, by contrast, reflects the precision of modern motorsport engineering and the personal discipline required in Formula 1âs unforgiving environment. Joining F1 in 2021, he became the first Japanese driver to compete full-time in several years, bringing a passionate fanbase from his home country. Over the past seasons, Tsunoda has grown into a consistent performer, gaining respect for his aggressive driving and candid communication style.
Austinâs Sports Culture on Full Display
The Austin event captured more than a humorous athletic crossover â it reflected the cityâs growing identity as a hub of sports innovation and entertainment. Over the past decade, Austin has transformed from a music and tech destination into a multi-sport powerhouse, hosting world-class events from Formula 1 to professional soccer and strength exhibitions.
The U.S. Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has played a central role in this evolution. Since its debut in 2012, the race has become one of North Americaâs biggest motorsport spectacles, drawing massive crowds and international attention. The city embraces the influx of fans each October with a celebratory week blending sport, live music, and community events.
Thursdayâs athlete gathering embodied that energy â a casual, spontaneous celebration bridging different corners of the sporting world. Spectators reported that even after Hooperâs playful lifting demonstration, the two athletes engaged in friendly competition on the padel court, exchanging light-hearted banter.
Social Media Reactions: From Amusement to Admiration
Within hours, the clip of Hooper lifting Tsunoda amassed hundreds of thousands of views on Instagram and X, prompting reactions from fans, journalists, and even fellow drivers. Comments humorously referenced the size difference between the pair and praised Hooperâs effortless display of control. One fan quipped, âOnly Yuki could turn getting lifted like a kettlebell into a PR highlight.â
While humorous, the viral moment underscored a growing fan appetite for authentic, unscripted athlete interactions. Sports marketing experts note that such viral crossovers often have greater reach than official promotional content, as they humanize elite athletes and cut through formal barriers between fans and competitors.
âIn an age of social media saturation, fans crave authenticity,â one digital analyst noted. âMoments like this connect on a personal level because they show humor, humanity, and respect between athletes.â
Economic Ripples from Viral Athletic Encounters
Though brief, viral events like these can have tangible promotional and economic impacts for both professional sports and host cities. Austinâs hospitality and tourism sector, already benefiting from the Grand Prix influx, experiences uplift from every social media post that enhances its image as a vibrant, sports-friendly destination.
Local merchants, hotels, and restaurants are expected to enjoy a strong weekend bolstered by increased foot traffic and global attention. Event organizers estimated that the 2025 U.S. Grand Prix could bring in more than $400 million in regional economic impact â a figure on par with major sports finals or festivals. Viral content amplifies that effect by reinforcing Austinâs appeal to future visitors.
Meanwhile, strongman sports continue to enjoy a surge in global visibility, particularly in North America, where streaming platforms and fitness influencers have popularized strength events among younger audiences. Hooperâs recognition outside traditional strongman circles continues to elevate the sportâs mainstream appeal, presenting opportunities for new sponsorship deals and cross-promotional partnerships.
From Friendly Fun to Shared Legacy
While the episode may seem like a brief, amusing interlude, it also encapsulates a deeper message about the universality of sport. Moments of levity like this â an elite strongman hoisting an elite driver â cut across barriers of size, language, and discipline. They remind fans of what draws so many to athletics in the first place: the shared admiration for human capability and the joy of spontaneous competition.
Both Hooper and Tsunoda have acknowledged the friendship that has developed through such encounters. In follow-up online posts, they exchanged playful nicknames, calling each other âthe strongest manâ and âthe fastest man.â Their interaction not only generated laughs but also strengthened public perception of athletes as approachable figures whose skill and humor coexist.
Looking Ahead
As Formula 1 gears up for Sundayâs high-stakes race at COTA, both the driver and the strongman continue to attract global attention. Tsunoda hopes to capitalize on his teamâs mid-season improvements, while Hooper prepares for his appearance at an upcoming North American Strongman showcase later this fall.
The viral moment in Austin will likely be remembered not just as a fleeting social clip but as an emblem of sportsmanship, humor, and the unique cultural blend that defines modern athletics. In a sporting world often dominated by precision, pressure, and competition, one simple lift became a reminder of the joy that drives it all.