Tsolov next in line at Racing Bulls is now official, at least in the eyes of team boss Alan Permane. Speaking at the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa, Permane gave the clearest signal yet that 19-year-old Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov is the number-one candidate for a Formula 1 promotion to the Faenza-based squad.
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Tsolov next in line: what Permane actually said
Alan Permane has revealed that F2 racer Nikola Tsolov is “next in line” for a promotion to Racing Bulls, with the team yet to confirm their line-up for the 2027 season. The statement came during Friday’s press conference at Spa-Francorchamps and is the strongest endorsement Permane has made so far.
Permane said: “To say he’s next in line would be an understatement. When that will be, I don’t know, honestly.” He added that Racing Bulls would make a decision when the time is right, but the direction of travel is clear.
After previously shutting down speculation that the 19-year-old had already been offered a full-time drive, the Team Principal praised his impressive performances in the junior series, where he currently leads the standings by 17 points.
This is a big shift. Just weeks ago at the Austrian GP, Permane rejected speculation that Tsolov had been offered a full-time seat with Racing Bulls for the 2027 season, stating that they hadn’t “spoken about it internally at all.” The Belgian GP press conference tells a very different story. Tsolov next in line is now the narrative.
Who is Nikola Tsolov and why is he so exciting?
Nikola Tsolov is a Bulgarian racing driver, noted for his rapid rise and record-breaking performance in the junior categories. At the time of writing, Nikola Tsolov is 19 years old. He was born on 21 December 2006.
His debut season in Spanish Formula 4 in 2022 was record-breaking, yielding 13 victories and the overall Championship title. He then spent three seasons in FIA Formula 3, where he secured the overall Vice-Champion title in 2025.
Tsolov joined the Red Bull Junior Team at the end of 2024 but has yet to make an appearance in any F1 practice sessions. Despite that, his F2 form in 2026 has been sensational. Tsolov drove off into the distance to win for the sixth time this season, becoming the first driver in Formula 2 history to win three consecutive races, with his success at Silverstone moving him into the lead of the Drivers’ Championship.
His performances in F2 this year have caught everyone’s attention, and Red Bull are clearly watching very closely indeed.
Tsolov next in line: what it means for Lawson and Lindblad
With Tsolov next in line for a seat, the obvious question is: who makes way? There is continued uncertainty over Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, with neither driver confirmed at Racing Bulls beyond the current season.
Reports claiming Tsolov had already secured a Formula 1 seat indicated Lawson would make way for the Bulgarian, although the Kiwi played down suggestions that his possible arrival could force him out of the Red Bull system.
Permane is not making it easy for anyone. Racing Bulls’ consistency has earned them sixth in the Teams’ Championship, but they are just one point behind Alpine. “It’s good to have two quick guys, that’s for sure,” Permane summarised. He added: “They’re incredibly close, I think if you look at this morning, their ideal laps are separated by milliseconds, so it’s going to be nip and tuck all year.”
So both Lawson and Lindblad are doing their jobs well. That makes the Tsolov next in line question even more complicated. For more on how Verstappen’s future at Red Bull could affect the whole driver chain, check our deep-dive.
Can Tsolov win the F2 title in 2026?
The Bulgarian has emerged as the leading candidate from Red Bull’s junior program after taking control of the Formula 2 championship. Tsolov currently leads Gabriele Mini by 22 points after finishing fourth in the Belgian sprint, despite the result bringing his three-race winning streak to an end.
Tsolov finished runner-up in Formula 3 last season before stepping up to F2, where four Feature Race victories have placed him at the centre of Red Bull’s latest driver discussions. Six wins in total this season underline just how fast he is.
One key detail: Tsolov does not currently have a superlicence, which is why he has not yet driven in an FP1 session with either Red Bull family team. However, Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer has revealed that the team are planning to hold a Testing of Previous Cars (TPC) test with Tsolov later in the year. That will be a major milestone.
What happens next for Racing Bulls?
Permane has now offered his clearest indication that Tsolov is at the front of the queue should an opportunity emerge at Racing Bulls. The timing of any promotion still depends on F2 results, superlicence points, and what happens with the current driver lineup.
There is a lot moving in the driver market right now. Tsolov next in line is a story that will only grow as the season goes on. Keep an eye on how the title fight at the top of F1 develops too, because that could also reshape Red Bull’s plans.
For the official Racing Bulls team updates, check the Red Bull Junior Team profile and the official Formula 1 article for Permane’s full comments. Stay with us at rnt-motorsports.com for all the latest as Tsolov next in line turns from a rumour into reality. Follow all the latest action from Spa this weekend on our Belgian Grand Prix Spa schedule page.
