A Ford Raptor T1+ rally truck jumped over Red Bull's 2011 RB7 Formula 1 car during a promotional stunt in San Francisco on February 18, 2026. The event, part of the Red Bull Showrun series, drew around 50,000 spectators but included incidents like a car fire and minor crowd impacts. Reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda escaped unharmed after his demo vehicle burst into flames.
The Red Bull Showrun, presented by Ford Racing, transformed San Francisco's Marina Boulevard into a temporary racetrack on February 18, 2026. Streets between Baker and Buchanan were closed from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. to accommodate the free event, which featured Formula 1 demonstrations and other motorsport displays. Around 50,000 fans attended, watching vehicles perform on an eight-tenths-of-a-mile stretch.
A highlight was a stunt where off-road racer Mitch Guthrie Jr. drove the Ford Dakar-spec Raptor T1+ up Broadway's 11-degree hill at approximately 45 mph, launching over a five-degree ramp. Former F1 driver Scott Speed maneuvered the Red Bull RB7 underneath the airborne truck. A video caption described it as "From zero to airborne in San Francisco," drawing positive comments like "Awesome work team!"
Yuki Tsunoda, Red Bull's test and reserve driver for 2026, headlined with doughnuts in the 2011 RB7, the car that secured double titles that year. The demonstration ended dramatically when the rear erupted in flames. Fans shouted warnings, and Tsunoda, 25, exited safely before marshals extinguished the fire. He had been demoted from a full-time seat to Isack Hadjar at the end of 2025. Reflecting on the news in Abu Dhabi, Tsunoda said, "Obviously, I’m disappointed, and p***ed off... Surprisingly, I’m OK. Not OK, like, I’m surviving OK."
Other participants included freestyle motocross rider Aaron Colton. However, incidents marred the event: Speed's car hit a barrier, impacting the crowd fence and causing a small cut on a girl's knee. Freestyle motocross rider Aaron Colton also performed. Post-event, residents reported chaos, including litter, broken windows, smashed planters, attempted break-ins, and public urination, with complaints about insufficient police presence.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie praised the event on social media: "It was an incredible event that brought 50,000 people to our waterfront—and our city showed out." Spectators like Avi Singh of San Jose noted drivers doing "crazy things like wheelies," while Stephanie Lo of San Francisco called it "fun" for bringing crowds together. The series aims to bring F1 action to U.S. cities, with the 2026 season starting at the Australian Grand Prix from March 6-8 in Melbourne.
