DRAMA IN SAN FRANCISCO: Yuki Tsunoda’s Red Bull RB7 Erupts in Flames During High-Octane Showrun!
The streets of San Francisco are no stranger to steep hills and cinematic car chases, but the city witnessed a different kind of mechanical drama this weekend. In a high-stakes Red Bull Showrun that was supposed to be a celebration of Formula 1 power, Yuki Tsunoda found himself at the center of a terrifying scene when his championship-winning RB7 caught fire following an intense series of victory donuts.
The event, which drew massive crowds to the iconic waterfront, featured Tsunoda piloting the legendary V8-powered RB7—the car that famously dominated the 2011 season. The atmosphere was electric as the screaming Renault engine echoed off the city’s skyscrapers, providing a rare sonic treat for American fans. However, the high-revving spectacle took a dangerous turn toward the end of a performance set.
After performing several high-speed rotations that filled the air with thick tire smoke, flames were seen licking out from the rear of the car’s bodywork . The intense heat generated by the stationary donuts, combined with the lack of airflow typical for a Formula 1 car’s cooling system, likely caused the internal components to ignite.
As the “heat” became literal, the crowd’s cheers turned to gasps of concern . The Red Bull support crew and local San Francisco Fire Department units—who were already on-site for the event—acted with lightning speed. Marshals rushed toward the smoking RB7 with fire extinguishers as Tsunoda remained composed, quickly exiting the cockpit as the flames were neutralized.
Despite the scary visuals, Tsunoda appeared unfazed, taking to the stage shortly after to thank the city and the emergency services for their rapid response . “It was great to be here in San Francisco driving the RB7 and having some fun,” Tsunoda told the crowd, even as the smell of scorched carbon fiber lingered in the air .
While the car suffered visible heat damage to its rear bodywork, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of these racing machines, even when they are “just” putting on a show. The event concluded with a massive shout-out to the San Francisco Police and Fire Departments for ensuring the safety of both the driver and the thousands of fans in attendance .
