Nikola Tsolov during his first F1 outing at Imola for Racing Bulls. Image: Red Bull
The Formula 2 championship leader covered 690 kilometres aboard the 2025 VCARB 02 during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) day at the Italian circuit.
It marked Tsolov’s first experience behind the wheel of F1 machinery and comes as the 19-year-old increasingly emerges as a factor in Red Bull’s decisions over its 2027 driver line-ups.
Tsolov joined the Red Bull Junior Team ahead of the 2025 season and currently leads the F2 standings by 20 points over Gabriele Mini with five rounds remaining.
His Imola outing provided an opportunity to begin adapting to the demands and procedures of an F1 car while giving Racing Bulls an extended look at one of the leading prospects within Red Bull’s junior system.
“First TPC day in a Formula 1 car done, and I’m super happy with how today went,” Tsolov said.
“I really enjoyed every lap and it’s difficult to put into words what it means to finally get this opportunity.
“A massive 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 to finally experience it is pretty incredible.
“I still don’t think I’ve fully comprehended what we achieved today, but I enjoyed every lap and hopefully I’ll get the chance to add some more kilometres soon.”
The test adds another element to an increasingly crowded picture across Red Bull’s two F1 teams heading towards 2027.
Max Verstappen has already committed his future to Red Bull, leaving three seats across Red Bull and Racing Bulls potentially available to Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad and Tsolov.
No decision has been made over how those places will be filled.
Tsolov has previously been linked with a Racing Bulls promotion, with reports earlier this season suggesting he could replace Lawson despite the New Zealander remaining firmly in contention for a place within the organisation.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane dismissed suggestions in July that Tsolov had already been promised a seat but made clear how highly he was regarded within Red Bull’s development structure.
“He’s doing incredibly well,” Permane said at the time.
“To say he’s on the radar would be a little bit of an understatement. He’s next in line, I think is fair to say.”
Tsolov’s first F1 mileage comes at a particularly significant point in that discussion after Lawson strengthened his own position with an impressive return to Red Bull at last weekend’s Dutch Grand Prix.
Lawson was drafted in after Hadjar suffered a wrist injury, qualifying eighth at Zandvoort before finishing seventh to score six points.
He followed his Zandvoort performance by completing another 608 kilometres for Red Bull during Pirelli’s 2027 tyre test at Mugello earlier this week.
Hadjar is expected to reclaim the seat once fit, while Lindblad has also impressed during his rookie campaign with Racing Bulls, leaving Red Bull with several options as it considers the make-up of both teams for next season.
For Tsolov, the immediate focus remains his F2 title challenge, although his 690km Imola program has now given Red Bull its first opportunity to assess him in Formula 1 machinery.
Permane said the Bulgarian had made a positive first impression.
“Today was a really positive step for Nikola. He adapted quickly to the car and showed the composure you want to see from a driver taking on an F1 car for the first time,” he said.
“The outing is part of the ongoing development plan the team runs for its junior drivers, giving them the tools, the mileage, and the environment to develop.
“We’ve seen time and again what this pathway can produce, and it’s days like today that are part of how we keep building it.”