Bulgaria's Nikola Tsolov to Make F1 Debut with Racing Bulls in Mexico!

Bulgarian racing driver Nikola Tsolov will make his Formula 1 debut in the first free practice session for the Mexico City Grand Prix on Friday, driving for Racing Bulls in place of Liam Lawson, the team announced.

The session at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez marks another step toward Tsolov’s ambition of becoming a full-time Formula 1 driver. Known as the “Bulgarian Lion,” he has already tested a Racing Bulls car at Imola in August, where he made a strong impression. His appearance in Mexico will give him an opportunity to build on that experience.

Tsolov will take part in the session during a break in the Formula 2 season, where he currently ranks second in the championship standings. He will also reunite with Arvid Lindblad, with whom he briefly raced as a teammate at Campos Racing in 2025.

"Huge thanks to Racing Bulls for giving me the opportunity to drive in Mexico. Following my first test with the team at Imola in August, I am happy to take this next step - continuing to learn about the car and the current regulations. My goal is to make the most of the session, work with the team, and provide the necessary feedback," Tsolov said, according to Racing Bulls.

Team Principal Alan Permane said the session would contribute to the Bulgarian driver's development within the Red Bull Academy. "For Nikola, taking part in the first free practice session is an important step in his development within the Red Bull Academy. It demonstrates our commitment to young talent and provides them with invaluable track time to learn and grow. We have already worked with Nikola at Imola, and we look forward to building on that in Mexico."

The first Formula 1 practice session in Mexico is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m. Bulgarian time on Friday.