Yuki Tsunoda had a scary moment during a Red Bull showrun in San Francisco after his Formula 1 car suddenly burst into flames.
The Japanese driver was behind the wheel of the RB7, the 2011 championship-winning car once driven by Sebastian Vettel. The event took place at the city’s waterfront as part of a promotional run for Red Bull and its engine partner Ford.
Fans watched as smoke started pouring from the back of the car. Within seconds, flames became visible. People in the crowd began shouting to warn Tsunoda.
Tsunoda quickly pulled over and jumped out of the car. Thick smoke surrounded the vehicle as the fire grew bigger. Safety crews rushed in and managed to control the flames. The driver was not hurt.
Videos of the incident spread quickly on social media. Red Bull shared photos from the event, but the fire itself was not highlighted in their official posts.
Tsunoda is currently Red Bull’s test and reserve driver. He lost his race seat for the 2026 season and was replaced by Isack Hadjar. Before that, he had stepped in at Red Bull following Liam Lawson’s struggles.
After the season finale in Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda admitted that losing his seat was tough. He said he is determined to work hard and prove he deserves a place back on the grid.
For now, he can be thankful he walked away safely from what could have been a far more serious incident.
