Nikola Tsolov will get his first real test in an F1 car later this month. The Bulgarian is part of the Red Bull development program and will compete at Imola on behalf of Racing Bulls. Since Tsolov took the lead in the Formula 2 championship, he has been strongly linked to a seat at the Red Bull sister team. At Imola, the 18-year-old will already get an important opportunity to prove himself.
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Tsolov is impressing this season in Formula 2 and is at the top of the championship at the time of the summer break. Racing Bulls had already indicated that they wanted to give the Bulgarian the chance to gain mileage in an F1 car. So far, his experience has been limited to demonstrations: in June 2025 he drove in Sofia with the Red Bull RB7 and earlier this summer he took part in the Goodwood Festival of Speed with the RB8.
TPC test Nikola Tsolov
The test at Imola coincides with the last filming day of Racing Bulls this year. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will take a seat in the 2026 VCARB03 on August 27 for a promotional event. They are allowed to cover a maximum of 200 kilometers together, while Tsolov can drive significantly more kilometers under the rules for testing with a previous generation car. For this, the team uses the VCARB02, the car Racing Bulls was active with last season. The adjusted rules for so-called TPC tests make it possible this year to drive with a car from the previous generation. Previously, a TPC car had to be at least two years old.
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The test thus forms an important next step in Tsolov’s development, who is increasingly coming into focus within the Red Bull program. “We are currently considering letting him (Tsolov, ed.) do a TPC test because he needs a license to participate in free practice,” said Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer in an interview with Sky Sports in July. However, he firmly dismissed rumors of a possible promotion at the expense of Arvid Lindblad or Liam Lawson. “Liam and Arvid are doing at least as well,” he assured.
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