The Debut
While waiting for the return of Formula 2, which will take place in Monza after a longer summer break than the Circus, Nikola Tsolov has reached an important milestone in his career, still in Italy. The Bulgarian driver, a jewel in the crown of the Red Bull Junior Team and leader of the F2 championship, in fact completed yesterday his first test behind the wheel of an F1, taking to the track at Imola.
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Almost 700 km
The 19-year-old, like other young talents who experienced the thrill of Formula 1 for the first time in this 2026, carried out a test on a car that does not participate in this championship (TPC, Test Previous Cars), completing a test of 690 km behind the wheel of the Racing Bulls VCARB 02 from last season: “The first day of TPC on a Formula 1 car is over, and I am very happy with how it went today – commented Tsolov – I had a lot of fun every lap and it is hard to put into words what it means to finally have this opportunity. A huge thank you to VCARB and the Red Bull Junior Team for believing in me and giving me this chance. It is something I have worked for my whole life, so being able to finally live it is truly incredible. I don’t think I have fully realized what we achieved today yet, but I enjoyed every lap and I hope to have the opportunity to rack up more kilometers soon.”
Further statements about Tsolov’s test also came from Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane, who on more than one occasion had been impressed by the Bulgarian driver’s talent: “Today was a really positive step for Nikola. He adapted quickly to the car and showed the composure expected from a driver facing a Formula 1 car for the first time. This outing is part of the ongoing development plan that the team carries out for its young drivers, providing them with the tools, mileage, and environment to grow. We have seen more than once what this path can produce, and days like this are an integral part of contributing to their growth.”
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