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Tsolov named Red Bull reserve for 2027 as race seat waits
Nikola Tsolov will attend every 2027 Grand Prix weekend as Red Bull’s third driver, combining reserve duties with an expanded testing and development programme.
Red Bull and Racing Bulls have named Nikola Tsolov as their third driver for 2027, giving the Formula 2 title-chaser a full season of reserve and development work after the team’s race seats were filled. He is expected to attend every Grand Prix weekend while continuing to build towards a possible race opportunity in 2028.
The appointment follows confirmation that Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will retain their Racing Bulls seats next season. With no cockpit available for Tsolov, the team has opted for an expanded programme rather than an immediate move into another championship.
Tsolov will combine reserve duties with track mileage
The 19-year-old is set to take part in multiple FP1 sessions during 2027. The source notes that the FIA requires teams to field young drivers who have started no more than two Grands Prix, providing a route for Tsolov to gain further experience in current F1 weekends.
His work will also include simulator and development duties, Testing of Previous Cars, selected test sessions and tyre testing. Red Bull said the combined programme is intended to prepare him to race in Formula 1. TPC running will allow Tsolov to accumulate mileage in older-specification machinery.
His initial F1 experience came this year, with a TPC outing at Imola followed by a first-practice appearance in Mexico. Our report on his first Racing Bulls test at Imola covered the first step in that progression.
A seat remains the longer-term target
Tsolov progressed through Spanish Formula 4 with Campos Racing, then moved through Formula 3 and into Formula 2. He left the Alpine Academy in late 2024 and joined the Red Bull junior programme ahead of the 2025 season. He is managed by Fernando Alonso’s A14 Management agency.
A switch to DTM had reportedly been considered as a way to keep him active while he waited for a Formula 1 opportunity. That option has now been set aside in favour of the enlarged Racing Bulls role. The decision aligns with earlier discussion of Tsolov’s wait for a seat: read our coverage of why a Racing Bulls move was unlikely for 2027.
For now, the arrangement gives Tsolov regular contact with the team and substantial opportunities to work on track, while Lawson and Lindblad remain in the race line-up for next season.