One of San Francisco’s most serene waterfront stretches was transformed on Saturday afternoon into a four-hour wall of engine noise, burnt rubber, and crowd excitement.
Under rolling clouds and bright sun with a backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, the scene in the Marina was postcard-perfect: seagulls squawked overhead, calm waters lapped at Fort Mason, and an easy breeze blew across the grass.
Then the engines started roaring over the estimated 40,000 people who packed Marina Boulevard for Red Bull Showrun, a touring demonstration of Formula 1 cars and famed drivers — even Mayor Daniel Lurie made an appearance.
For hours, F1 cars, stunt bikes, and trucks ripped through a 0.8 mile route. Vehicles rotated through a near-constant cycle of burnouts, stunt runs and revs, with thick tire smoke hanging over the route and wafting down Marina Boulevard as the breeze carried it away.
The crowd itself was part of the show. Fans lined fences, climbed onto playground structures, perched in trees, and scaled roofs for better views. Kids in earmuffs watched from shoulders. Red Bull staffers handed out drinks as some waited in long merch lines and others held their spots by the tracks, while cheers erupted every time an engine revved to life.
Tens of thousands flocked to Marina Boulevard to watch the Red Bull Showrun on Feb. 21, 2026. | Source: Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
Yuki Tsunoda, 25, a Japanese driver who raced in Formula 1 for five seasons and became one of the sport’s most recognizable young drivers, got the biggest cheers from the crowd. Fans waved Japanese signs and Tsunoda flags near the barriers.
“I’m very excited,” Tsunoda told the Standard, before the runs. “Fortunately, we got nice weather. Driving an F1 car in San Francisco next to the sea, is something that you only imagine — a dream.”
At one point, Mayor Daniel Lurie also joined the spectacle, suiting up and riding in a Ford Raptor demo with off-road racer, Mitch Guthrie Jr.
Afterward, the mayor called the quick ride a wild experience, and “one that I will never forget, and I’m not sure I need to do again.”
Several attendees said Formula 1 feels more accessible now because fans can follow the sport through streaming and Netflix’s “Drive to Survive,” but what energized the Marina crowd was the chance to see the cars and drivers up close, in person — for free.
Madeline Stemple, 15, who came down from Redding with her father, said she was there to “just see the cars, and especially Yuki as well.”
She described Tsunoda as “super sweet, maybe short, but great person overall.” She also kept a running tally of the day’s sponsor: “Got super caffeinated on all the free Red Bulls. I’m at two… we’re going for more.”
Spectators found creative ways to get a better view of the Red Bull Showrun event on Feb. 21, 2026. | Source: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images
At one point, spectators scampered up trees and sometimes even homes for better views, sparking a back-and-forth argument in front of glitzy properties. A family in one house even shouted at police to get people out of the trees in front of their house. Tree-climbers yelled back that it was public property.
Online, there were spouts of criticism pointing out the irony of sideshows being banned in the Bay Area, while a corporate version is being so widely celebrated. Some attendees concurred.
“It’s a sanctioned thing here, and Red Bull puts on as much safety as they can,” said Adam Kari, who added that he rode his motorcycle up from Half Moon Bay. “But no matter what, if you ban sideshows, it just means that it’s going to be sneakier.”
Aaron Colton performs during the Red Bull Showrun on Feb. 21, 2026. | Source: Long Nguyen / Red Bull Content Pool
The day wasn’t without hiccups: Scott Speed, another well-known race car driver, appeared to clip a corner and lose part of the car’s nose during one run. Additionally, at one point Tsunoda’s car suffered a dramatic mechanical problem, with smoke and flames erupting from the RB7’s engine.
But the crowd didn’t seem to mind too much — by late afternoon, the event’s energy spilled far beyond the Marina.
In North Beach, Christopher Renfro, owner of natural wine shop Friend of a Friend, propped up a sign that proclaimed: “F1 fans come in and learn about F1 hybrids,” referring to a hybrid grape variety.
“I’ve seen a lot of Red Bull signage and a lot of Red Bull clothing today,” he said. “I’ve seen a lot of Lamborghinis and other cool cars. I just love when our city has a lot of energy pulsing through it.”