Crowds flocked to San Francisco’s Marina Green on Feb. 21 for the Red Bull Showrun, which showcased an official Formula One (F1) racing car.
The event was the first of a 3-part series; the following two will be held in Phoenix, Arizona, and Atlanta, Georgia. Red Bull partnered with Ford Racing to give San Francisco residents an up-close look at the capabilities of various motorsport vehicles.
The highlight of the afternoon, according to most participants, was the Red Bull Racing F1 car, driven by Red Bull reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda. Tsunoda demonstrated the car’s immense power by speeding up and down San Francisco streets, adding a touch of thrill to the afternoon.
“It’s a beautiful day to be in the city and see something that’s not very common,” said Gabija Parnarauskaite, an attendee. “It’s sunny, it’s not too hot, and it’s been really nice that everybody’s out and having a great time.”
Parnarauskaite also noted that San Francisco is still working to emerge from the social lull caused by the 2020 lockdown. This event was an example of groups gathering to share a passion, which Parnarauskaite sees as undeniably positive.
However, the assembly of over 40,000 people to watch a strip of roadway has its drawbacks.
“There wasn’t enough space for people to watch the cars; everyone was standing on scooters, climbing trees, and climbing poles or avenue signs just so they could get a peek,” said Carlmont junior Katelyn Yee. “I had to climb a railing just to see it.”
Yee’s observation was not uncommon. Multiple instances of attendees finding unorthodox places to view the event have gone viral on social media, as the Marina Green proved difficult to accommodate everyone.
The Showrun and similar events help the team garner support for the upcoming F1 season. Red Bull Racing is a prominent figure on the grid this year with 4-time F1 World Championship winner Max Verstappen returning, as well as Isack Hadjar, who was recently promoted from the junior Red Bull team.
Tsunoda’s appearance in the official Red Bull Racing car was a significant motivator for some of the crowd to attend, especially F1 fans such as Yee and Bay Area local Milton Ake.
“I got into the sport during COVID just because not a lot of in-person events were happening,” Ake said. “I’m excited to see how the new regulations are going to affect the sport, and I’m happy to see a new team as well.”
Although crowded San Francisco streets made viewing difficult, Red Bull gave the city an afternoon full of excitement, community, and even surprises. While Tsunoda was showcasing the vehicle’s capabilities during the event’s grand finale, smoke began pouring from the rear of the car, quickly spreading to a small fire. However, the blaze was swiftly contained by emergency crews, and the show continued.
“The grand finale kind of shocked everyone,” Yee said. “No one was expecting a car to catch on fire, but I think that’s in typical Red Bull fashion.”
