On June 23, 2026, Spanish motorsport outlet Soy Motor published an exclusive report stating that Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov (pictured) has already secured a Formula 1 seat for the 2027 season with Racing Bulls (the Red Bull sister team, formerly AlphaTauri/VCARB).
–by Mark Cipolloni–
Key Claims from the Soy Motor Report
– Tsolov has a guaranteed (“garantizado”) and verbally agreed (“apalabrado”) seat at Racing Bulls for 2027.
– The deal is done, but the full driver lineup puzzle remains to be solved depending on other moves.
– Tsolov has impressed Red Bull’s top decision-makers (“los ‘capos’ de Red Bull”) with his results.
– He is viewed as the best-prepared Red Bull junior for an F1 step-up in 2027 (ahead of others like Ayumu Iwasa, who has done FP1 sessions).
Quote from the article:
“Nikola Tsolov tiene garantizado un asiento de Fórmula 1 en 2027… El piloto búlgaro… ya tiene confirmado su salto al equipo Racing Bulls de cara a la próxima temporada. Hay acuerdo. Falta por saber el resto del ‘puzle’.”
(“Nikola Tsolov has a guaranteed Formula 1 seat for 2027… The Bulgarian driver… already has his move to Racing Bulls confirmed for next season. There is an agreement. What remains is to solve the rest of the puzzle.”)
The Verstappen Factor
The report heavily ties Tsolov’s arrival to Max Verstappen’s future:
– If Verstappen stays at Red Bull for 2027, one Racing Bulls seat will open up — and Liam Lawson is the driver most at risk of being displaced.
– If Verstappen leaves, more options open up across the Red Bull family, but Tsolov’s Racing Bulls seat is still secured regardless.
Quote:
“La decisión de Max es clave. En el caso de que decida seguir, uno de los pilotos de Racing Bulls sobra. Ese piloto, a priori, es Liam Lawson –tiene todas las papeletas para quedarse fuera–.”
(“Max’s decision is key. If he decides to stay, one of the Racing Bulls drivers will be surplus. That driver, a priori, is Liam Lawson – he has all the cards to be left out.”)
Who Is Nikola Tsolov?
– Bulgarian driver, 19–20 years old (born 2006), member of the Red Bull Junior Team.
– Currently in his rookie 2026 FIA Formula 2 season with Campos Racing.
– Strong performer: 2nd in the F2 championship with 80 points, 3 wins (two feature races, one sprint) so far.
– 2025: Runner-up in FIA Formula 3 (also with Campos), despite bad luck.
– Earlier: Dominant in Spanish F4.
– Nicknamed “el león búlgaro” (the Bulgarian lion) by Soy Motor.
– Former protégé of Fernando Alonso via A14 Management (they parted ways tumultuously; Tsolov is no longer managed by them).
He made a late F2 debut in the final rounds of 2025 and has adapted quickly in 2026.
Current Context (as of June 2026)
– Racing Bulls 2026 lineup: Liam Lawson (lead driver, performing solidly in midfield) and Arvid Lindblad.
– Lawson is in his second year with the team after a stint at the senior Red Bull squad.
– Tsolov’s promotion would follow the classic Red Bull pathway: strong junior results → F2 title contention → Racing Bulls seat → potential Red Bull promotion.
Broader Reception
The story has spread rapidly across social media (Instagram, X/Twitter, Reddit, etc.) within hours of publication. English-language sites such as F1 Oversteer have reported on it, framing it as Tsolov “securing” the seat with Lawson’s future now in question. Some fans are sympathetic to Lawson, while others see it as typical Red Bull ruthlessness in developing juniors.
Note: This remains a report/exclusive claim from Soy Motor — it has not been officially confirmed by Red Bull, Racing Bulls, or Tsolov himself. No contract has been publicly signed yet, and Tsolov still needs to secure his FIA Super License.
This would be a fast-track promotion for Tsolov, who is still only in his first full F2 season. The outcome will largely depend on Verstappen’s decision and how the rest of the 2026 season (and summer break) plays out.