Nikola Tsolov has been touted as “next in line” for a Formula 1 seat, but the Red Bull junior is still uncertain about his future.
Tsolov has become a hot topic of discussion for the future of the Racing Bull seat as Liam Lawson looks at risk with his contract expiring at the end of the season.
The Bulgarian driver first turned heads in his third season of Formula 3.
Where most drivers fall away after spending so long in the feeder series, Tsolov spent his first two seasons with ART Grand Prix. For his third season, largely viewed as a make-or-break season, he moved to Campos Racing as a new member of the Red Bull junior driver programme.
This transition led to Tsolov having a record-breaking season in F3, taking five victories in his third season, which was the series’ record and secured him a position in F2.
Since then, the Bulgarians success and championship battle in F2 have gone hand in hand with rumours of his move to F1.
Tsolov is on track to beat the record for the most F2 wins in a single season, just two away from dethroning Charles Leclerc and George Russell, who collected seven wins in their championship campaigns.
With his impressive dominant performance in an increasingly competitive series, he’s quickly become the natural choice to take the next open seat at Racing Bulls and eventually Red Bull.
An opening at Racing Bulls
Liam Lawson’s contract expires at the end of this season, with the Kiwi already having a failed stint at Red Bull; it’s unclear if the sister team will choose to retain him.
However, what is clear is that Alan Permane views Tsolov to be “next in line”, going as far as telling the media that he is ‘on the radar’ for a potential seat in the team.
Despite the discussions in the paddock, Tsolov admitted his future is still uncertain.
“Nothing yet, unfortunately,” he told Sky Sports F1. “But it’s still early days. We need to get through the summer break.
“I need to keep doing what I’m doing; obviously, I have no doubt that if everything goes the same way, I surely will get an opportunity one day.”
For Tsolov to make the move to F1, he first needs the super license points to compete in the championship and even take part in an FP1 session.
Red Bull has said that in the autumn Tsolov will get a Test of Previous Cars [TPC] session, so he can collect the mileage needed to apply for a license.
However, despite the hurdles that Tsolov may need to jump to make it to F1, the primary one for the Bulgarian driver is the F2 season.
“So for me, that’s important,” he added. “I focus on the current, which is F2, and obviously, the better I do today in F2, the more chance I give myself.”
Although he leads the championship, F2 is notorious for the way the order shifts and changes constantly, and Gabriele Mini and Rafa Camara remain close to Tsolov in the title fight.
Coming as a runner-up can still secure a place in F1, as the 2025 rookies showed. However, winning is a far better hand to be negotiating with.
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