Red Bull Racing handed Nikola Tsolov his first Formula 1 test drive on Thursday, running him in the VCARB 02—the team’s 2025 F1 car—during a private session at Imola. The Bulgarian driver, currently leading the Formula 2 championship, covered 690km as part of Red Bull’s testing of previous cars (TPC) programme, designed to evaluate junior talent.
The outing marks a significant milestone for Tsolov, who is being considered for Red Bull’s 2027 driver lineup alongside current reserve driver Liam Lawson. Racing Bulls’ decision to test him in an F1 car underscores his rapid rise through the junior ranks and the team’s urgency to secure long-term talent.
With Tsolov’s F2 campaign still in progress, the test serves as both a performance check and a statement of intent. Red Bull’s next moves will hinge on his continued progress and the broader driver market picture.
