P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Yuki Tsunoda’s return to a Red Bull F1 car ended with the Japanese racer having to abruptly exit the car, after the RB7 caught fire at a fan event this…
Yuki Tsunoda’s return to a Red Bull F1 car came to an abrupt end in San Francisco as the RB7 caught fire during a showrun this past weekend.
Videos on social media captured the dramatic moment when the car’s rear burst into flames after Tsunoda performed some donuts, leading him to exit the car and move to safety.
Following the incident, a Red Bull spokesperson confirmed that the fire was caused by an overheated exhaust system and was swiftly extinguished, with no injuries reported.
This showrun, supported by Ford, aimed to promote Red Bull Racing in America ahead of the 2026 season, with Tsunoda now set to serve as a reserve driver after being replaced by Isack Hadjar last year.
Despite the setback, Tsunoda is expected to continue participating in special demonstrations for Red Bull, similar to the role Daniel Ricciardo had as a reserve driver before.
The RB7 is a championship-winning car from 2011 driven by Sebastian Vettel, and previous incidents of Red Bull cars catching fire during showruns have been reported, all without any casualties.
