In brief
On 26 February 2027, Nikola Tsolov will drive the VCARB Formula 1 car in Mexico City’s first free‑practice session, marking his debut in an official F1 FIA event. The move follows an Imola test and is part of the Red Bull Junior Programme’s development path for the Bulgarian driver. Tsolov, a former Spanish F4 champion and FIA Formula 3 runner‑up, now competes in the FIA Formula 2 Championship with Campos Racing.
On 26 February 2027, Nikola Tsolov will drive the Formula 1 car for the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) team during the first free‑practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, marking his debut in an official F1 FIA session.
He will take the wheel of fellow VCARB driver Liam Lawson’s car, a move that follows his successful test at Imola earlier this year.
The decision reflects VCARB’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and is part of the Red Bull Junior Programme, in which Tsolov has been groomed since 2025.
"A big thank you to VCARB for giving me this opportunity in Mexico," Tsolov said in a press release. "Following my test with the team at Imola in August, I’m excited to take this next step, build on that experience and learn more about the car and the current regulations. I’ll focus on making the most of the session, working closely with the team and providing useful feedback."
VCARB team principal Alan Permane added, "Having already worked with Nikola at Imola, we’re looking forward to seeing him build on that experience in Mexico and to the feedback he can provide to help support our preparations for the weekend."
Before joining the F2 championship with Campos Racing, Tsolov captured the Spanish F4 Championship in 2022 and finished runner‑up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025, positioning him as a title contender in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.