Tom Cruise takes the wheel of Red Bull's F1 car in California
Hollywood star Tom Cruise completed 24 laps in a Red Bull Racing Formula One car at Willow Springs, guided by ex-F1 driver David Coulthard during a seven-hour session.
Tom Cruise drove a Red Bull Racing Formula One car at Willow Springs Raceway in California on 15 August 2011, completing 24 laps under the supervision of former Red Bull driver David Coulthard. The session was organised as part of Formula One’s promotional push ahead of the series’ return to the United States.
Cruise, known for performing many of his own stunts in the Mission: Impossible series, was invited by Red Bull Racing to experience the RB7 F1 car. David Coulthard, a 13-time Grand Prix winner, provided instruction throughout the day, supported by a 12-person Red Bull crew. The event was timed to coincide with the build-up to Formula One’s planned return to the US calendar in 2012, with the Circuit of the Americas under construction in Austin, Texas.
Cruise's performance in the RB7
The session lasted seven hours, with Cruise making steady progress as he became more familiar with the car’s handling and performance. He managed to improve his lap time by almost 11 seconds from his first to last attempt. According to Red Bull, Cruise adapted quickly to the complex controls and high-performance demands of the car, impressing Coulthard with his ability to recall instructions and push the car’s limits safely.
The RB7, Red Bull’s 2011 Formula One challenger, was powered by a 2.4-litre naturally aspirated V8 engine and had already secured multiple wins that season. While Cruise is no stranger to high-performance vehicles, driving a contemporary F1 car requires rapid adaptation to high cornering forces, advanced braking systems and precise throttle control. The event was not a publicity stunt for a film, but part of a broader effort to raise the sport’s profile in the US market.
Formula One’s return to the United States
Formula One had been absent from the US since 2007, with the last race held at Indianapolis. The Austin circuit was under construction at the time of Cruise’s drive, with the inaugural race scheduled for 2012. Red Bull’s decision to involve a major Hollywood figure was aimed at generating media attention and building enthusiasm ahead of the series’ return. The event followed a broader pattern of F1 teams and promoters using celebrity appearances to reach new audiences in the US.
- Red Bull Racing RB7 featured a 2.4-litre V8 engine.
- The car won the 2011 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.
- Formula One returned to the US in 2012 at Circuit of the Americas.
Cruise’s drive did not involve any competitive running or demonstration laps at a public event. It was a private session focused on giving the actor a genuine taste of F1 machinery, with full technical support and coaching from a race-winning driver. The event highlighted Red Bull’s willingness to use unconventional marketing to promote its brand and the sport, particularly in the build-up to a key market re-entry.
Red Bull continued to use creative stunts and celebrity involvement in the years that followed, including running an F1 car on the beach and collaborating with other high-profile figures. The 2011 Cruise event remains one of the most high-profile examples of a Hollywood star driving a contemporary F1 car under professional conditions.
