F1 News: Houston Hosts Insane Formula 1 Event As Red Bull Arrives In USA

Alex Harrington | Oct 6, 2024

Mad Mike drives at Red Bull Showrun Houston in Houston, Texas, USA on September 7, 2024 / Al Arena / Red Bull Content Pool

Houston's urban sprawl hosted the Red Bull Showrun at Discovery Green, captivating an audience of around 35,000 fans. Despite the city's absence from hosting official Formula One races - despite plenty of rumors of such - the event delivered a taste of F1 excitement, drawing enthusiasts from all corners of the region. The late summer Saturday event transformed Houston into a motorsport haven for American fans.

Central to the event was former F1 driver David Coulthard, known for his remarkable career consisting of 13 Grand Prix victories. Coulthard took the driver's seat in the RB7 car, and had plenty of fun doing so.

"Thank you to the city of Houston for getting us all together. And the thousands of people who turned out for today's Red Bull Showrun,

"Thank you to the city of Houston for getting us all together.," he said via Chron. "The fan base in America is so passionate and I think the energy has been amazing today."

The event also marked a substantial milestone for Arvid Lindblad, a budding junior driver who made his public debut in an F1 cockpit by piloting the RB8 car. His performance, complete with impressive 360-degree donuts, really showed off the stunning Renault V8 hidden under the engine cover.

Complementing the F1 machinery, Aaron Colton brought a rush of adrenaline with his freestyle motorcycle antics, while Mad Mike Whiddett thrilled the audience with burnouts and drifting in his highly modified McLaren P1 drift missile. Andrew Carlson also showed off his impressive Pro4 truck.

Beyond the tire smoke and engine roars, the Houston Showrun featured a rich array of entertainment that celebrated the city’s strong car culture. The Cars and Coffee group delivered a display of stylish lowriders, contributing to the event's diverse automotive showcase. Music filled the air during an intermission with performances by DJ Mr. Rogers of Houston and DJ Hed from Los Angeles. Paul Wall, a Houston rap icon, served as the emcee.

The evening ended with an energetic DJ battle aptly titled "Red Bull Turn It Up".

Houston's selection as a venue was obviously influenced by how close it was to the Circuit of the Americas - the home of the upcoming Grand Prix in Austin, but the city's car culture was also put on display and fully celebrated.