In brief
The 23‑year‑old Bulgarian racer will drive the VCARB Formula 1 car during the first free‑practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix, following a test at Imola earlier in the season. The move reflects his progression within the Red Bull Junior Programme and the VCARB team’s commitment to developing emerging talent. Analysts note the opportunity could accelerate his transition to higher tiers of motorsport.
On Wednesday, the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) team confirmed that Bulgarian driver Nicola Tsolov will take the wheel of its Formula 1 car during the first free‑practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday night.
The announcement, published by BTA and posted on the VCARB website, marks Tsolov’s first appearance in an official Formula 1 FIA session. The decision follows a 700‑kilometre test at Imola earlier in the year, a step in the Red Bull Junior Programme that the driver joined in 2025.
In the press release, Tsolov thanked the team and expressed excitement about the upcoming session. He said, “Following my test with the team at Imola in August, I’m excited to take this next step, build on that experience and learn more about the car and the current regulations. I’ll focus on making the most of the session, working closely with the team and providing useful feedback.”
VCARB Team Principal Alan Permane highlighted the significance of the move, stating, “Running Tsolov in an F1 car reflects the team’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and giving junior drivers valuable track time and the support they need to learn and develop.”
Permane added that he had already worked with Tsolov at Imola and was eager to see his progress in Mexico City, saying, “We’re looking forward to seeing him build on that experience in Mexico and to the feedback he can provide to help support our preparations for the weekend.”
Out of the fast‑lane, Tsolov’s background includes a 2022 Spanish F4 Championship title and a runner‑up finish in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship. He is currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 season with Campos Racing and has emerged as a title contender for the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
By stepping onto an F1 car, Tsolov will be among a growing cohort of Red Bull Junior Programme drivers receiving tangible experience in the sport’s pinnacle. The move mirrors similar opportunities granted to other young talents who have tested or raced at the elite level before securing full‑time seats.
Analysts note that the technical data gathered during the free‑practice session can be invaluable for both Tsolov and the VCARB team. Having his car set up for a driver beyond the regular full‑time personnel allows the team to evaluate tyre performance, aerodynamic settings, and simulation models against a new driving style.
VCARB’s decision also aligns with the team’s stated mission to develop and showcase new talent. While the team’s core package consists of the Lisserra™ power unit, the driver‑change highlights the collaborative nature of privateer teams in Formula 1, which often rely on external drivers for testing and fundraising.
Beyond the immediate technical benefits, the event could influence Tsolov’s standing within the competitive ladder of the Red Bull Junior Programme. A strong performance could accelerate consideration for full‑time seats in F2 or even a provisional seat in an F1 partner team.
The free‑practice session itself is scheduled for a 27‑minute window at 1:15 p.m. local time, on the full length of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. The VCARB car will be driven alongside the regular drivers of the team, giving Tsolov a chance to gauge lap‑time differences and testing gear in real‑world conditions.
From the perspective of the Red Bulls, the driver’s experience gained during the Mexico City Grand Prix could complement on‑track data, as the team is known for a detailed feedback loop with its junior drivers. The insights collected at a high‑profile Grand Prix circuit might feed directly into simulation updates and vehicle setup for the next season.
While the press release and the team’s statements outline the move as a developmental milestone, questions remain about how Tsolov will adapt to the car’s power delivery and telemetry in a day’s worth of practice. Analysts speculate that his reaction time and ability to report on aero changes will be closely monitored by the team’s performance engineers.
The VCARB team’s choice to field an emerging driver in an F1 car also underlines the broader debate around resource allocation in private teams. By leveraging external drivers as a part of their development program, VCARB can generate additional sponsorship interest while reinforcing its grassroots message.
With the Marching Mexican super weekend approaching, the VCARB driver’s submission of feedback could have a measurable impact on the team's strategy for the final race weekend. Stakeholders in the partnership will keep a close eye on both driver performance and the data series extracted during the session.
On the ground, Tsolov’s experience will be captured by a series of telemetry feeds and live commentary. Analysts expect team engineers and Rhys Simmonds—if the analyst’s quotes are sub-fulfilled— to discuss any discrepancies and integrate the findings into the next days' technical briefings.
At the conclusion of the free‑practice, VCARB will release a session report detailing lap times, tyre usage, and driver commentary. While the report will not be made public before the weekend’s session, insiders predict that it will highlight areas where Tsolov’s driving contributed positively to the car’s set‑up.
In total, the announcement by BTA and VCARB signals a pivotal moment in Tsolov’s racing trajectory. The driver’s successful navigation of the VCARB car’s full‑track session will be scrutinized by his racing peers, the Red Bull Junior Programme, and the Formula 1 community as a potential litmus test for his readiness to compete at the highest level.
As the Mexico City Grand Prix draws nearer, supporters and critics alike will watch Tsolov’s lap times closely, hoping the young Bulgarian will turn the driver’s seat into a stepping‑stone for a future Formula 1 journey.