Yuki Tsunoda forced to abandon burning Red Bull car during San Francisco demonstration
Yuki Tsunoda had to evacuate a Red Bull Formula One car after it caught fire during a demonstration event in San Francisco, reports BritPanorama.
The incident occurred while the 25-year-old Japanese driver performed doughnuts on Marina Boulevard as part of the Red Bull Showrun. Just moments into the display, smoke started billowing from the rear of the RB7, the same model driven by Sebastian Vettel to his 2011 World Championship victory.
Tsunoda was forced to exit the vehicle hurriedly as flames became visible near the rear tyres, alarming spectators who called for him to escape. Emergency crews swiftly responded to battle the blaze while thousands looked on, capturing video footage of the dramatic scene.
Despite the smoke, Tsunoda continued performing for approximately 30 seconds until the situation escalated. As the fire intensified, the driver calmly climbed from the cockpit and walked away, waving fumes from his face. Fortunately, emergency personnel contained the flames before they could consume the historic vehicle entirely, leaving it abandoned on the road.
Returning to an F1 cockpit after concluding his full-time racing role, Tsunoda is now part of Red Bull’s reserve and testing programme for the upcoming season. Previously competing for Alpha Tauri, he has yet to stand on a Formula One podium, accumulating 33 points during his last year as a full-time competitor.
Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar will now represent Red Bull in competitive action during the 2026 championship. Prior to the incident, Tsunoda had expressed his excitement for the showcase, stating: “I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of an F1 car and to do that in RB7 in San Francisco, it will be amazing.”
The San Francisco event marked the first of three promotional opportunities for Red Bull ahead of the new campaign, with demonstrations also scheduled in Phoenix and Atlanta in the coming weeks. As the dust settles on this alarming episode, it serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of motorsport — where the thrill of performance can turn to peril in an instant.
