In brief
Nikola Tsolov, a Red Bull Junior Programme driver, will replace Liam Lawson in the VCARB car for FP1 at Mexico City. The move follows a successful test at Imola and underscores the team’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent. Tsolov, a Spanish F4 champion and FIA F3 runner‑up, now competes in FIA F2 and is contending for the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
Bulgarian racing driver Nikola Tsolov will take the wheel of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) Formula 1 car in the first free‑practice (FP1) session of the Mexico City Grand Prix, making his debut in an official FIA‑sanctioned event. The announcement came from the VCARB team on the event’s official website on Wednesday, 26 February 2027.
VCARB confirmed that Tsolov will drive the vehicle formerly piloted by New Zealand driver Liam Lawson. The decision is part of a broader strategy by the team to give “emerging talent valuable track time,” the team’s Principal Alan Permane said, emphasizing the role VCARB plays in supporting drivers who are part of the Red Bull Junior Programme.
"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," Permane added in a statement released alongside the announcement.
From his first outings with Red Bull’s junior birds, Tsolov has been a standout performer. He claimed the Spanish F4 Championship in 2022 and finished as runner‑up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025, before moving up to compete in the 2026 FIA Formula 2 season with Campos Racing.
In August 2026, Tsolov completed a 700‑km test at Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, satisfying the requirements for an international F1 licence. The test was a preparatory step that the VCARB team used to evaluate his readiness for the high‑performance demands of a Formula 1 car.
"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," Tsolov said. "I’ll focus on making the most of the session, working closely with the team and providing useful feedback." They quoted his remarks in the team’s press release.
The transition from Formula 2 to a Formula 1 car is a significant milestone for any driver. The technical challenge involves mastering a vehicle with a hybrid power unit, four‑wheel steering, and an extensive telemetry suite that allows teams to monitor everything from throttle response to aerodynamic load in real time. While those details are not part of this release, the logistics of a driver’s first F1 session usually demand acclimation to the car’s braking points, tire behaviour and powerband characteristics, which differ markedly from lower‑formula machinery.
Aviation and automotive engineering fields frequently use similar high‑temperature, high‑pressure systems for analysing responses, but the FIA regulations governing the use of such data in competition remain strict. VCARB’s decision to run a Red Bull Junior driver in an official session reflects the organisation’s confidence that he possesses the technical acumen needed to satisfy those regulations in a race‑ready environment.
In recent years, the presence of junior drivers in free‑practice sessions has grown, as teams increasingly rely on emerging talent to provide feedback that can refine aerodynamic and power‑unit settings before race weekend. By giving Tsolov first‑hand experience in an F1 car, VCARB aligns itself with the growing trend of leveraging cutting‑edge driver development strategies.
Assessments from the FP1 session will inform both VCARB and Red Bull on the readiness of their shared talent pipeline. Tsolov’s performance could influence his 2026 season trajectory, as he competes for the FIA F2 Drivers’ Championship title. A strong showing in Mexico may reinforce his case for a future seat in a F1 works or satellite squad.
As Tsolov gears up for the Mexico City Grand Prix, the same factors that guided his earlier successes—solid racecraft, technical feedback and consistent race results—will guide his performance. If he demonstrates the ability to adapt quickly, VCARB and Red Bull will likely consider him a prime candidate for further development opportunities in the world’s premier motorsport series.