Yuki Tsunoda escaped unharmed after a historic Red Bull RB7 caught fire during a show run on San Francisco’s waterfront. Tsunoda — making his first public appearance since losing his race seat late in 2025 and now Red Bull’s test and reserve driver (2026) — was driving the 2011 title‑winning RB7 in a Red Bull-Ford show run when, after a series of donuts, smoke and then flames erupted from the car’s rear. Fan footage showed spectators shouting for him to get out as he calmly unbuckled, stood up and climbed from the cockpit while response vehicles arrived; reports and eyewitness video indicated he was uninjured and no other injuries were reported.

Organizers halted the event early and retired the RB7 from the demonstration, leaving smoke and smoldering wreckage on the waterfront. The RB7 is closely associated with Sebastian Vettel’s 2011 championship, and the fire drew extra attention because it occurred during a public show rather than in competition.

Coverage combined fan video and eyewitness reaction with technical commentary; observers also noted Red Bull’s new in-house power unit developed with Ford — which had been praised for reliability in preseason testing — but no technical cause for the RB7 fire has been provided and there is no confirmation the modern power unit was involved. The incident prompted questions among observers about potential logistical and reputational fallout for Tsunoda and Red Bull. Isack Hadjar replaced Tsunoda on Red Bull’s 2026 race roster; Tsunoda scored 33 points and finished 17th in 2025.

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