On June 4, 2025, just days after the tumultuous Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen appeared in Salzburg, Austria, to take part in a spectacular reopening of Hangar-7, the iconic home of Red Bull’s Flying Bulls. The four-time Formula 1 world champion stole the show with a breathtaking demo run, treating attendees to a series of impressive donuts on the runway at Salzburg Airport. The event marked the grand reopening of Hangar-7, which reopened its doors to the public after a five-month renovation. With his signature flair and unparalleled driving skills, Verstappen put on an unforgettable spectacle that thrilled the 1,500 guests.
Hangar-7, located at Salzburg Airport, is much more than just a hangar. It is an architectural masterpiece that opened in 2003 under the impetus of Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. The futuristic building, with its 1,754 custom-made glass panels and 1,200 tons of steel, is home to the historic Flying Bulls fleet, a collection of rare planes and helicopters, including a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, a Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair and a Bell TAH-1F Cobra. Hangar-7 also houses an impressive collection of Formula 1 cars, including the RB8 in which Sebastian Vettel became world champion in 2012, and cars from Toro Rosso, the team with which Verstappen began his Formula 1 career in 2015. It is a place where technology, art and motorsport come together, and the recent renovation has given the hangar a modern and improved look.
The reopening on June 4 was a grand event, organised with typical Red Bull grandeur. Verstappen was not the only prominent presence; Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko were also present, as were Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff and former Formula 1 driver Gerhard Berger. The event brought together a mix of motorsport legends, including MotoGP star Dani Pedrosa, Dakar racer Daniel Sanders and NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch, who together performed a series of demonstrations. Verstappen, behind the wheel of a Red Bull Formula 1 car, transformed the runway into a race track, his donuts and lightning-fast runs sending the crowd into raptures. Above them, the Flying Bulls filled the sky with a spectacular air show, with historic aircraft such as the Alpha Jet and the Corsair showing off their skills.
The absence of Yuki Tsunoda, Verstappen’s teammate at Red Bull Racing, was notable. Tsunoda had to perform a tire test in Barcelona on the same day, meaning he was unable to attend the festivities. It highlights the tight schedules that Formula 1 drivers have to deal with, especially in a season in which Verstappen is under immense pressure to claim his fifth world title. Despite recent controversies, such as the heavy penalty he received after a collision with George Russell in Spain, Verstappen appeared relaxed and focused in Salzburg. His appearance was not only a celebration of the reopening, but also a moment to strengthen the bond with the Red Bull fans.
Hangar-7 is more than a museum; it is a symbol of Red Bull’s commitment to extreme sports and innovation. In addition to the exhibition, the complex offers culinary delights in the Michelin-starred Ikarus restaurant, which will reopen on 11 June 2025 with Belgian chef Thijs Vervloet as its first guest chef. The Mayden Bar and the Carpe Diem Lounge-Café, which will reopen on 12 and 7 June respectively, complete the offering. The hangar, which is free to enter, attracts 200,000 visitors every year and remains a must-visit for motorsport and aviation enthusiasts.
For Verstappen, the reopening of Hangar-7 was an opportunity to share his passion for racing in a unique location, close to the Red Bull Ring, where he will compete in the Austrian Grand Prix later in June. His performance, combined with the airshows and the presence of other Red Bull athletes, underlined the versatility of the brand. As Verstappen prepares for the remainder of the Formula 1 season, this show in Salzburg proved once again why he is not only a champion on the track, but also a crowd pleaser off it.
