Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov will get his first taste of Formula 1 machinery in a TPC test for sister-outfit Racing Bulls later this month.
Tsolov has built up quite a reputation in the F1 paddock with his exploits in the junior categories.
The 21-year-old, who ended up as the 2025 F3 vice-champion, currently leads the drivers’ championship by 20 points in his first full-time F2 campaign, racing for the Red Bull-liveried Campos outfit.
The Bulgarian racing driver has been earmarked for a bright future in the sport as a Red Bull junior and is on the cusp of a momentous step forward, with a Testing of Previous Car (‘TPC’) test scheduled for him courtesy of Racing Bulls.
Tsolov will be strapped into the cockpit of the Faenza-based team‘s 2025 challenger, the VCARB02, at the Imola circuit on the 27th of August.
Racing Bulls’ 2026 driver line-up of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will also be at Imola, conducting the team’s final 200 km-capped filming day in the VCARB03.
Tsolov’s test is a crucial milestone planned by Racing Bulls as they gear up to help the 21-year-old accumulate the requisite superlicense points for a maiden Friday FP1 outing.
“We’re currently considering having him do [a] TPC test, because he needs a licence to drive in Friday practice sessions,” Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer had told Sky F1.
“He’s still lacking a few kilometres. And we’re planning that for the autumn.”
Nikola Tsolov “obviously confident” about potential Racing Bulls F1 race seat
Tsolov’s explosive feeder series trajectory so far has given rise to credible speculation about a fast-tracked pathway into F1.
His Red Bull junior status pointed to a potential race seat for the Bulgarian racing driver at Racing Bulls in 2027.
Team Boss Alan Permane, however, while not confirming this, did concede that Tsolov was “next in line” to inherit the seat from either Lawson or Lindblad.
The duo’s strong performances in 2026 so far may have delayed the team’s decision to trigger Tsolov’s promotion until at least Max Verstappen decides on his Red Bull future.
But when that opportunity does come up, the 21-year-old is “confident” of putting his best foot forward.
“You always want to believe you’re the best at what you do, and I’m trying to show that this year,” Tsolov told Sky F1.
“And knowing I’ve done what I’ve done so far, I think I should be able to adapt well if I’m given the opportunity.
“I know I will work my hardest to get it, and yeah, feeling confident in general.”
While Tsolov would be chomping at the bit in anticipation of his F1 debut, his focus would be on extending his lead in the F2 standings at Monza next time around.
READ MORE – Red Bull ‘advantage’ identified in Max Verstappen future dilemma
Discussion about this post