.jpg)
If celebrities are in some essential way Not Like the Rest of Us, the Miami Grand Prix hammers it home. A partial list of attendees includes reigning Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes, pop star Camila Cabello, the newest Captain America Anthony Mackie, and former president Donald Trump. Most of the A-listers keep to themselves. Security guards literally part crowds for Trump. Others, like Mackie and Cabello, shuttle quickly through the paddock club, maybe offering a quick wave to onlookers as they make their way to an even more secluded area.
And then there is Butler, who enjoys his coffee as people approach the truck every few minutes for a drink. When they realize that Jimmy Freakin’ Butler is hanging out behind it, which they almost all do, they come over for a selfie or a quick chat. Butler is patient and gracious, chopping it up with eager fans who have him as their lock screen wallpaper, and others who want to thank him for what he’s done for the Heat.
“People don’t get the opportunity to see myself or people they see as stars or celebrities or famous people,” Butler explains. He definitely has fun with his fame, like showing up to media day with an emo look—and then bringing back the persona for a Fall Out Boy music video. “As great as it is to be known, it can be a lot. But it’s great to be liked, to be loved, to be noticed. I think that’s what everybody always wants,” he says. “Attention is a motherfucker, I’m not gonna lie. But if it’s in a good way, it can be a great thing.”
Eventually, Butler makes his way over to the McLaren garage to hang out with Norris before his qualifying race later in the day. Norris is one of Butler’s many cross-sport friends, which include tennis phenom Carlos Alcaraz and soccer superstar Neymar Jr. Butler and Norris are rarely in the same city, but remain in touch throughout their respective seasons.
“That’s my man!” Butler says. “I talk to him all the time. He’s like a grown man even though he’s every bit of 24. He cares about people. He loves competition more than just F1, which is why we click a lot. I’m glad that I can call him a friend.”
As much as Butler respects Norris, though, he will not be getting back into a car with him. Five years ago, when Norris was only 19, he took Butler for a “hot lap” at the Canadian Grand Prix, hitting speeds that made Butler exclaim, “My stomach is finna fall out my ass.”
So could anything get Butler back into an F1 car? “Nothing,” he says. “Going fast is not for me. Like I don’t drive fast cars. If you look in my garage, you see big-body cars. I’m from the South, I like big cars. I drive under the speed limit.“
In the McLaren garage (Butler is careful to pronounce the team name the proper British way, Jimmy is goofing around. He dons an orange team polo and scribbles the name Lando on it himself. He tries on a set of giant earmuffs and a racing helmet. Then he heads out of the garage into the actual pit to take a seat in front of a set of intricate controls, where he claims he feels at home.
Read the full article here
