F1 Today | Tsunoda drama unfolds as Domenicali teases joint F1 launch comeback

The Japanese driver climbed into the RB7 — the machine that powered Vettel to his second world championship in 2011 — less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the second pre-season test in Bahrain, marking his first appearance since his temporary departure from Formula 1 last December.

During the demonstration run, the car’s rear section unexpectedly ignited after several burnouts carried out to entertain the spectators. Flames quickly intensified, prompting the crowd to urge Tsunoda to abandon the car, which he managed to do calmly and without incident.

Even so, fans remained firmly behind the Japanese driver, continuing to cheer and chant his name long after the situation had been brought under control.

F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali has suggested that a collective season launch could make a comeback in 2027, following the format introduced with last year’s F1 75 event in London.

In 2025, Formula 1 organised a large-scale celebration at the O2 Arena to mark the championship’s 75th anniversary, bringing all ten teams together to reveal their new liveries in a single show. The event featured entertainment segments, comedy performances and elaborate stage productions, sparking mixed reactions from both fans and figures within the paddock.

Domenicali explained that discussions are ongoing about staging another worldwide launch involving every team, describing the previous edition as having a significant global communication impact — almost like an additional race on the calendar — while stressing that the idea remains under evaluation for now.