The young Bulgarian, 19, accumulated 690 kilometers at the wheel of an F1 at Imola, the team values his rapid adaptation and composure while the driver dreams of more kilometers in the near future.
The dream of every junior driver took a step closer to reality for Nikola Tsolov, the Formula 2 championship leader and member of the Red Bull Young Driver Program completed his first test at the wheel of a Formula 1 car. The chosen venue was the historic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, a circuit that has witnessed legendary moments in motorsport.
The session was part of Racing Bulls' Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) program, an initiative that allows young drivers to accumulate valuable kilometers in the top category. Tsolov, 19, covered no less than 690 kilometers, a distance that allowed him to familiarize himself with the physical and technical demands of an F1 car, a crucial step in his development as a driver.
The Bulgarian's impressions after the experience were pure emotion: "First TPC day in a Formula 1 car completed and I'm very happy with how it went today, I enjoyed every lap and it's hard to put into words what it means to finally have this opportunity" declared Tsolov.
The young driver did not hide his gratitude towards the structure that has propelled him: "A huge thank you to VCARB and the Red Bull Junior Team for believing in me and giving me this opportunity, it's something I've been working towards my whole life so experiencing it finally is pretty incredible."
The team's assessment could not have been more positive. Alan Permane, Racing Bulls team principal, highlighted the maturity shown by the driver in his F1 debut: "Today was a really positive step for Nikola, he adapted quickly to the car and showed the composure you want to see in a driver facing an F1 for the first time" stated Permane. The team principal underlined the importance of these sessions in the academy's development plan: "The outing is part of the ongoing development plan that the team executes for its young drivers, giving them the tools, the mileage and the environment to develop" he asserted.
The moment could not be more opportune for Tsolov, he currently leads the F2 standings with a 20 point advantage over his closest pursuer, Gabriele Mini. His name has begun to be mentioned strongly in paddock rumors about a possible promotion to Racing Bulls for the 2027 Formula 1 season. Permane himself, in statements in July, had already opened the door to that possibility without confirming anything definitive: "It's not a lie to say we're not thinking about it right now, he's there doing his job, we're doing ours and we'll make a decision if and when he moves up to Racing Bulls later this year."
The Imola test represents a milestone in Tsolov's career but also a clear message about the future, Red Bull's academy has historically demonstrated its ability to produce top level talent and the Bulgarian seems to be the next link in that chain. His progression in F2, added to this first successful experience in an F1 car, place him in a privileged position to aspire to a seat in the top category.
For now, Tsolov's immediate focus remains the Formula 2 championship, the next round will be at Monza, the ideal stage for the young driver to prove that his leadership is no coincidence. The F1 dream is closer than ever, and this test at Imola has been a reminder that talent, when combined with the right opportunity, can become reality, Tsolov's future in motorsport promises to be exciting.
