Nikola Tsolov, the Formula 2 championship leader, completed his first Formula 1 test at Imola, covering 690 kilometres in the 2025 VCARB 02 during a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) day. This milestone not only marks his debut in F1 machinery but also strengthens his case as a future contender for a race seat.
The 19-year-old 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. The Imola outing gave him a first taste of the demands and procedures of an F1 car, while offering Racing Bulls an extended evaluation of one of the brightest prospects in 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 layer to the increasingly complex picture across Red Bull's two F1 teams heading into 2027. With Max Verstappen already committed, three seats at Red Bull and Racing Bulls could be up for grabs among Liam Lawson, Isack Hadjar, Arvid Lindblad, and Tsolov. No decisions have been made yet.
Tsolov has been linked with a Racing Bulls promotion earlier this season, with reports suggesting he could replace Lawson mid-season. However, Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane dismissed such claims in July, while making clear that Tsolov is highly rated. "He's doing incredibly well," Permane said. "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."
This first F1 mileage comes at a pivotal moment, especially after Lawson bolstered his own case with a strong return at the Dutch Grand Prix. Drafted in for the injured Hadjar, Lawson qualified eighth and finished seventh, scoring six points. He then completed another 608 kilometres for Red Bull during Pirelli's 2027 tyre test at Mugello. Hadjar is expected to reclaim his seat once fit, while Lindblad has impressed in his rookie campaign. Red Bull faces a wealth of options as it shapes both teams for next season.
Baca Juga
Alpine mengonfirmasi Franco Colapinto untuk musim 2027 setelah performa impresifnya di 2026. Colapinto akan kembali tandem dengan Pierre Gasly.
Alex Albon blak-blakan soal burnout di F1 2025 akibat jadwal komersial yang padat. Pembalap Williams itu berbagi cara mengatasi tekanan.
McLaren dan Red Bull menunggu keputusan banding GP Monako F1 yang bisa memakan waktu 2-3 pekan. Hasil ini akan menentukan nasib podium Pierre Gasly dan berdampak pada klasemen.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!