Red Bull complete show run in Tokyo
Ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix, Red Bull performed a showrun in Tokyo, with all four Red Bull F1 drivers driving F1 cars from the the company's heritage collection in front of Yuki Tsunoda’s home crowd.
The Red Bull Showrun took place on Wednesday in the streets of Tokyo in front of 12,000 fans, just days before Yuki Tsunoda completes his first race weekend as Max Verstappen's team-mate. The event marked the first time all four drivers from Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls participated in a showrun together.
Red Bull noted that they were eager to celebrate the team’s partnership with Honda and the final season of one of the most successful PU partnerships in motorsport history.
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen drove alongside hometown hero Yuki Tsunoda and VCARB drivers Liam Lawson and Isack Hadjar, as they took to the streets in F1 cars: the RB16B which saw Max win his first World Drivers' Championship and two RB7s, which won double World Championships, from the Team's Heritage collection.
The Japanese driver drove the final run in the Red Bull RB7 in front of his home crowd, before the cars pulled up in front of fans for a final photo moment with all Red Bull drivers. In the garage, the historic Honda RA 272 was also on display, which was the first Japanese car to win in Formula One.
Red Bull noted that the "event not only marked the Team’s final season with Honda, but also showcased the Team’s gratitude to the contribution of the successes that were achieved on track. Max has won four World titles with a Honda Power Unit and the Team have lifted two Constructors' titles with Honda, as well as Honda's reliability enabling the Team to complete the most successful season in the sport's history in 2023. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of Honda's first victory in F1."
Commenting on the event, Verstappen said: “It’s been a great day here at the Showrun in Japan and looks like the weather brightened up for us a bit, which is good! It’s the first time all four Red Bull drivers have been at a Showrun together and the day is really a thank you to Honda for everything over the years and marking our final year in partnership with them.
"I have won all four of my Driver’s Championships and two Constructors’ Championships with Honda so it has been a very successful one! To drive the RB16B again, the car that I won my very first Championship in is really special and brings back a lot of memories. I always love coming to Japan to race and really enjoy spending time here. The Japanese fans are always amazing and we want to thank them for coming out here today to celebrate the day.”
Speaking of the event ahead of his first race with Red Bull, Tsunoda said: “I loved today, and I hope the fans did too. They are so supportive of the sport and of me, it was great to be surrounded by them. I didn’t realise this was the first time all four Red Bull drivers had done a showrun together and that’s so cool!
"I looked up at the big screen at one stage and was watching Max and I in the two Red Bulls alongside each other and it looked really good. It’s one of those key moments for our Red Bull family to have as a memory. To also have a couple of generations of cars here is special, it’s just a shame I didn’t get to drive the Honda RA272 because of the rain.
"It’s very special to have this moment in my home country, driving a Formula One car in Tokyo has blown my mind! It’s a moment I have dreamt about, I imagined it as a kid driving here but now it’s happened in the real world, so thank you to Red Bull and Honda for making that happen.
"Saying thank you to Honda this weekend is very special for me, without them I probably wouldn’t be in the sport and I am honoured and excited to be driving an Oracle Red Bull Racing car for them this weekend in Suzuka. Hopefully I can have a good result with the beautiful livery, that would be a small token of appreciate to them from me.”
Reflecting on the showrun Honda Racing's President, Koji Watanabe commented: “In the year that completes the eight-year collaboration between Honda and Red Bull, we are delighted to host an event in Tokyo for fans to demonstrate the power and speed of F1 cars. Today, the four F1 drivers who drove F1 cars in Tokyo bay area will be fighting for victory at F1 Japanese Grand Prix this weekend.
"Oracle Red Bull Racing will compete in a special livery that pays homage to Honda's first Formula 1 victory 60 years ago with RA272 with a Japanese driver Yuki Tsunoda at his home race. See you on track."
