Overview
- Red Bull said the RB7’s exhaust overheated after extended burnouts, igniting the rear of the car, and on-site marshals quickly extinguished the flames with no injuries reported.
- The incident occurred at a Ford-presented Red Bull showrun on San Francisco’s Marina Blvd, where Tsunoda was driving the team’s 2011 championship-winning car.
- Fan footage shared on social media showed smoke and flames as nearby spectators shouted warnings before Tsunoda exited the stopped car.
- The RB7 has a history of demo-run fires, including a 2014 incident in Russia, while Tsunoda experienced a similar demo flare-up in Taiwan in 2024.
- Tsunoda is serving as Red Bull’s 2026 test and reserve driver after being replaced by Isack Hadjar, and the event also saw Scott Speed damage another RB7 in a separate barrier strike attended by more than 40,000 fans.