In brief
Nikola Tsolov became the first Bulgarian to compete in an official Formula 1 session, driving for VCARB during the first free‑practice of the Mexico City Grand Prix. The move came after a successful test at Imola and underscores the Red Bull Junior Programme’s commitment to developing emerging talent. Despite finishing 12th, Tsolov’s debut signals a new era for Bulgarian motorsport and boosts the sport’s visibility nationwide.
On Friday morning 26 February 2027, 19‑year‑old Bulgarian racing driver Nikola Tsolov lifted the throttle of a Formula 1 car for the first time in an official FIA‑sanctioned session, joining the International Motor Sport Association’s roster of drivers at the Mexico City Grand Prix. The event was the opening free‑practice of the weekend at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez and marked a historic entry for Bulgaria in the elite sport. Tsolov, who came aboard the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) team, took the seat of New Zealand driver Liam Lawson, and the move followed a successful test stint at Imola in August 2027.
Born in Sofia, Tsolov burst onto the racing scene with a back‑to‑back victory in karting championships that drew the eye of former Formula 1 champion Fernando Alonso. He moved into car racing in 2022, winning the Spanish F4 Championship in his debut season with thirteen victories before climbing the ladder to finish as runner‑up in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship. That podium‑heavy campaign earned him a place in the Red Bull Junior Team, elevating him to the Formula 2 grid with Campos Racing in 2028 and establishing him as a title contender in the 2029 season.
Historic Debut at Mexico City
The Mexican Grand Prix is an important venue for the FIA’s growing commitment to global outreach. Tsolov’s participation came at a time when the FIA is vetting a new safety regulation that mandates a minimum of 700 km of test mileage for drivers seeking an F1 licence. Tsolov’s successful August test at Imola satisfied those criteria, and the VCARB team confirmed his entry through an official web‑post on 26 February 2027. He began the session on medium compounds, recording a first lap of 1:22.070—1.256 seconds behind session leader Charles Leclerc on hard tyres. Tsolov’s performance improved throughout the night, shaving 0.466 seconds from his initial time and closing the gap to the leader to 1.915 seconds by the end of his stint.
In the final block of the session, the driver ran on soft tyres to push the limits of the VCARB 03, achieving a best lap of 1:19.604, a 0.059‑second improvement over Red Bull’s Isaac Hadjar. Despite an early fast lap that placed him eleventh, a brief pit stop prompted by numbness in his right leg halted the upward momentum and the session concluded with Tsolov classifying in twelfth place.
Impact on Bulgarian Motor Sport
For the people of Bulgaria, Tsolov’s debut is more than a personal milestone; it is a symbol of national presence in a sport that has historically been dominated by the United Kingdom, Germany and the United States. The government’s sports ministry and the Bulgarian national motorsport federation have both commented that Tsolov’s breakthrough will aid in building a new generation of talent in the country by raising the profile of auto‑sport among local youth. Public awareness, as measured by local media coverage and social‑media engagement, spiked following the first practice and is expected to justify continued investment in grassroots racing school infrastructure.
Tsolov said, "A big thank you to VCARB for giving me this opportunity in Mexico. 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."
Team Principal Alan Permane of VCARB highlighted how the experience fits into the broader Red Bull Junior programme: "Running Tsolov in a 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. Having already worked with Nikola at Imola, 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."
The success of this development step is monitored by the FIA’s Licensing Authority, whose regulations require that licenses be issued following successful completion of a test programme and a heavy involvement in the high‑performance environment of an F1 car. The licensing process relies on transparent data and public accountability. While the audit of the test programme remains under the jurisdiction of the FIA, the public knows that the telemetry data Tsolov demonstrated was a decision‑making ground for the next drivers that the Red Bull Junior Programme will consider.
Looking ahead, the first official F1 session for Tsolov sets the stage for future races where he might secure a full weekend in a race car. The capability of doing so will ultimately be decided by his performance in upcoming Formula 2 rounds, the FIA’s licensing council, and the strategic direction of the Red Bull Junior Programme. The drive for inclusivity, talent development and close collaboration with sporting authorities is the foundation with which all stakeholders proclaim this milestone as more than a personal victory—it is a civic triumph for Bulgarian motorsport and a promise of a more diverse future on the world’s most prestigious racing circuit.
