Red Bull and Racing Bulls confirmed on November 12 that Nikola Tsolov will serve as their shared reserve driver in 2027. The Bulgarian will gain a wider role in Formula 1 while his immediate racing focus remains the Formula 2 championship.
The appointment followed confirmation that Racing Bulls will retain Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad as its race pairing. Tsolov’s role is to stand by as a replacement when needed and prepare for future opportunities through driving and development support.
Simulator duties and more track experience
The programme includes simulator work, further FP1 appearances and Testing of Previous Cars, or TPC. The latter provides track experience in older Formula 1 machinery operated under the relevant regulations.
Tsolov has already made his first FP1 appearance for Racing Bulls in Mexico City. His new assignment extends that experience into a sustained preparation programme and gives both teams access to the same reserve driver.
A junior career moving towards F1
Tsolov was runner-up in the 2025 Formula 3 championship before moving into F2. At the time of the announcement, he remained in title contention in his first full F2 season, with two rounds left.
He credited the support received since joining Red Bull’s junior programme and reiterated his ambition to become an F1 driver. He wants to use the team’s resources and experience to keep learning and prepare for an eventual place on the grid.
Mekies highlights maturity and willingness to learn
Red Bull CEO and Team Principal Laurent Mekies said challenging for titles in successive F3 and F2 campaigns demonstrated Tsolov’s ability and determination. He also praised the driver’s maturity, approach to racing and willingness to improve.
Mekies said the 2027 priority would be to provide the experience, tools and support needed to prepare Tsolov to race in F1. Tsolov’s immediate aim is to finish the F2 season as strongly as possible, with Red Bull continuing to support his championship challenge.
