Yuki Tsunoda's Red Bull demo run ends in fiery spectacle

Yuki Tsunoda's demonstration run in a classic Red Bull Formula 1 car in San Francisco ended abruptly when the vehicle caught fire, forcing the Japanese driver to evacuate safely. The incident occurred during a public show event, casting a spotlight on Tsunoda as he transitions to a reserve driver role for Red Bull in 2026 after losing his full-time race seat.

Why it matters:

Public demonstration runs are meant to showcase F1's excitement and accessibility to fans, but this fiery malfunction highlights the inherent risks and unpredictable nature of pushing high-performance machinery, even in controlled environments. For Tsunoda, the dramatic incident serves as an unexpected public footnote to a difficult career transition, shifting from a race driver to a supporting role within the Red Bull system.

The details:

• The event took place on San Francisco's Marina Boulevard, featuring Tsunoda driving the championship-winning Red Bull RB7 from the 2011 season.
• The fire erupted from the rear of the car after Tsunoda performed doughnuts for the crowd. Spectators were heard shouting for him to exit the vehicle.
• Tsunoda evacuated without injury, and marshals promptly extinguished the flames.
• The show run also included other motorsport personalities like former F1 driver Scott Speed, emphasizing its cross-discipline promotional nature.

The big picture:

The fiery demo comes at a pivotal personal moment for Tsunoda. He was officially moved to a test and reserve driver role for 2026, making way for junior driver Isack Hadjar in the full-time Red Bull lineup. After the 2025 season finale in Qatar, Tsunoda expressed his disappointment at the decision, stating he was "pissed off" after being informed by Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. This public event, albeit ending in flames, was one of his first major appearances since that career demotion, blending spectacle with the underlying narrative of his changed status within the team.

What's next:

Tsunoda will now focus on his duties as Red Bull's reserve and test driver for the upcoming 2026 season, which begins in March with the Australian Grand Prix. While his future race seat prospects are uncertain, his experience and pace keep him in contention should a vacancy arise at Red Bull or its sister team. The team will likely investigate the cause of the RB7's fire, though such vintage car issues in demo runs are not uncommon given their age and the stresses of show driving.