The 2026 F1 season might still be ahead of us, but Red Bull is already firing up fans for the new campaign, and Yuki Tsunoda was part of the brand’s latest showcase. The energy drink powerhouse took to San Francisco in the U.S. for a show run in the Bay Area this past weekend.
What happened to Tsunoda?
Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull Catches Fire at San Francisco Show Run
The Marina got to see the best Red Bull has to offer, with all sorts of motorsports vehicles on show on the waterfront. The four-hour show near the Golden Gate Bridge saw around 40,000 people pack the boulevard, with Mayor Daniel Lurie also attending. F1 cars, stunt bikes, and trucks were all on show on the 0.8-mile route.
Tsunoda drove the Red Bull RB7 on the day — a throwback to Sebastian Vettel’s World Championship run of 2011. The Japanese driver had plenty of support at the event, with fans waving signs and flags of the driver around the boulevard.
“I’m very excited,” Tsunoda said, via The San Francisco Standard. “Fortunately, we got nice weather. Driving an F1 car in San Francisco next to the sea is something that you only imagine — a dream.”
MORE: F1 Braces for Major 2026 Disaster as New Power Units Turn Race Starts Into a High-RPM Gamble
At one point, though, his car caught fire after suffering a mechanical breakdown. Smoke and flames blitzed from the engine; however, no one was harmed.
Mayor Lurie also got in on the action, as he strapped in for a Ford Raptor demo ride with off-road racer Mitch Guthrie Jr. The Mayor spoke about his experience afterward, saying,
“[It’s] one that I will never forget, and I’m not sure I need to do again.”
What Lies Ahead for Red Bull and Yuki Tsunoda?
We are less than two weeks away from the 2026 season opener. Preseason testing in Bahrain concluded on Friday, and cars will only be on show again for the first race of the campaign in Melbourne, Australia.
RELATED: Formula 1’s 2026 Grands Prix Set To Explode to Life on the World’s Biggest IMAX Screens
Red Bull looks to be among the frontrunners again this year, given its preseason form. However, early indicators suggest the Austrian outfit should face strong opposition from Ferrari. The Prancing Horse made waves in Bahrain with its cornering speed, fastest laps, and revolutionary reverse rear wing.
As for Tsunoda, the youngster will serve as a reserve driver for Red Bull this year, with Isack Hadjar partnering four-time World Champion Max Verstappen in an attempt to return the Constructors’ Championship to Milton-Keynes.
The show run in California marked only the beginning of what should be a very interesting F1 season.
