Red Bull have officially confirmed Nikola Tsolov as their reserve driver for the 2027 Formula 1 season, with the Bulgarian youngster set to fulfil the role for both Red Bull and Racing Bulls. The announcement means his hopes of making his F1 race debut next year have come to an end, although the team has made it clear that it sees him as a serious prospect for the future.
The decision follows a closely contested battle for a Racing Bulls seat between Nikola Tsolov and Liam Lawson. The New Zealander ultimately retained his place on the grid after delivering a series of impressive performances, leaving the highly rated Bulgarian to continue his development in a reserve capacity.
Red Bull confirm Nikola Tsolov as reserve driver for 2027
Nikola Tsolov will not compete in Formula 1 as a full-time driver in 2027, but the prospect of a Bulgarian making his debut in the championship appears to have been postponed rather than abandoned. Red Bull have demonstrated their confidence in the youngster by promoting him to the reserve-driver role across both of their Formula 1 teams.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit officially announced the appointment, confirming another important step in Tsolov’s progression towards his ultimate ambition of securing a place on the Formula 1 grid.
After joining the Red Bull Junior Team in 2025, Tsolov quickly established himself as one of the most promising young drivers in the programme. He finished runner-up in the Formula 3 championship that year and currently occupies second place in the 2026 Formula 2 standings.
His hopes of claiming the F2 championship remain alive, particularly if current leader Rafael Câmara is promoted to a full-time race seat at Haas for the remaining events. The battle between the two young drivers has been one of the defining features of the season, with both attempting to establish themselves as future Formula 1 competitors.
The Formula 1 driver standings underline the competitive environment into which young prospects such as Tsolov hope to graduate, while Red Bull’s decision ensures the Bulgarian remains closely involved with the organisation as he prepares for that opportunity.
Laurent Mekies explains why Red Bull believe in Nikola Tsolov
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Tsolov’s development and performances, explaining why the team believes he has the potential to establish himself in Formula 1 in the coming years.
“Nikola is an exceptionally talented young driver, and we have been enormously impressed by his development and performances over the past few years,” Laurent Mekies commented.
“Fighting for the F3 title and now challenging for the F2 championship in his first full season says a great deal about his abilities and determination. We have been equally impressed by his maturity, his approach to racing and his willingness to keep learning and improving.
“We have great confidence in Nikola’s potential and consider him a driver with a very exciting future in F1. In 2027, our objective will be to provide him with the experience, tools and support he needs to prepare him to race in Formula 1.
“For the moment, Nikola still has an important job to finish in F2. We wish him all the best for the final two rounds and will support him in his fight for the championship.”
The comments underline Red Bull’s intention to use the 2027 season as an opportunity to prepare Tsolov for a future race seat rather than immediately promote him before a suitable vacancy becomes available.
Nikola Tsolov reacts to his new Red Bull F1 role
Nikola Tsolov welcomed the announcement and expressed his gratitude to Red Bull for the opportunity to continue progressing within the organisation. Although he will have to wait longer for his Formula 1 debut, the Bulgarian made it clear that his ambition remains unchanged.
“I am incredibly happy and grateful to Red Bull for giving me this opportunity,” Tsolov commented.
“Since joining the Junior Team, I have received extraordinary support and have grown a great deal, both as a driver and as a person. My career has progressed very quickly, and I owe so much to all the people who have believed in me and helped me get this far.
“My ambition is clear: I want to become an F1 driver. Having the opportunity to spend next year preparing for that step is incredibly exciting.
“I am convinced that, with the team’s support and experience, I will have the best possible preparation to be ready to join the grid when the time comes.
“I know I still have a lot to learn, but I am ready to work hard, make the most of every opportunity and give everything for the team. For now, my immediate focus is to finish the F2 season in the best possible way.”
His appointment represents another stage in a rapid rise through the junior categories. Tsolov has already attracted considerable attention through his Formula 2 performances, while his participation in the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix practice session provided further Formula 1 experience with Racing Bulls.
Liam Lawson wins Racing Bulls seat battle against Nikola Tsolov
Tsolov’s performances over recent months impressed Red Bull sufficiently for him to remain in contention for a Racing Bulls race seat until the final stages of the selection process. His main rival was Liam Lawson, who ultimately emerged ahead in the battle to secure a place on the 2027 grid.
The New Zealander had to produce a series of particularly strong performances to withstand the pressure from the Bulgarian prospect. His results proved decisive in securing his position, leaving Red Bull to find another way of continuing Tsolov’s development without offering him an immediate full-time drive.
The situation had already become an important part of the 2027 driver market, with Liam Lawson’s performances and Nikola Tsolov’s ambitions influencing Racing Bulls’ driver decision.
For Tsolov, the reserve-driver appointment means that the dream of competing in Formula 1 remains alive, even if his debut will have to wait beyond 2027. Red Bull’s confidence in his potential is clear, and his immediate challenge is to finish his Formula 2 campaign as strongly as possible before beginning the next stage of his career.
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