Formula 2 sensation Nikola Tsolov is firmly on Red Bull’s radar, with the Bulgarian teenager emerging as one of the most talked-about young talents in motorsport.
Reports from the New Zealand Herald suggest Tsolov is being lined up for a reserve driver role at Red Bull’s junior structure for the 2027 season.
Rather than jumping straight into a full-time Formula 1 seat, the plan appears to involve easing Tsolov into the top level through a structured development pathway.
That reserve role could be paired with a season competing in Japan’s Super Formula championship, giving him valuable additional race mileage.
The route is far from unprecedented within the Red Bull programme, as it mirrors the path Liam Lawson himself took back in 2023 after graduating from Formula 2.
Lawson eventually used that experience to earn his place on the full Formula 1 grid, and Red Bull appear to be following the same blueprint with their latest prodigy.
One complication for Tsolov is that if he wins this season’s F2 title, he will be ineligible to return to the championship next year, making a reserve role the logical next step.
Racing for Campos Racing, Tsolov currently leads the Formula 2 championship with 177 points, having taken six wins including four main race victories in what is his debut season.
Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane addressed the speculation surrounding his driver lineup when speaking at the Madrid circuit over the weekend, offering a measured but telling response.
“I think it’s still too early for us,” Permane said, adding, “Frankly, we usually wait a bit longer. There’s no pressure to announce our plans for next season just yet.”
Permane did not hide his admiration for Tsolov, acknowledging the scale of the challenge facing his current drivers in holding onto their seats.
“Nikola is definitely on our minds, and he’s having an incredible season – his debut in Formula 2, where he currently leads the championship,” the team principal continued.
Permane was equally complimentary about the drivers already on his books, describing the situation as an enviable dilemma for any team boss to face.
“That said, Liam and Arvid are both fantastic drivers as well. It’s a luxury problem,” he concluded.
Lawson himself has been far from idle this season, stepping up to cover for injured Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar across the last three races alongside Max Verstappen.
The New Zealander currently sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship with 59 points, making him the highest-placed driver outside of the Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull squads.