Nikola Tsolov, the Bulgarian racing driver competing for Campos in Formula 2, may be set for his first appearance at a Formula 1 race weekend. The venue under consideration is the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, with the end of October 2026 as the target window.
According to Gong, citing specialist publication PitLane24, Tsolov could take part in the opening free practice session of the Mexican Grand Prix on October 30. Dariknews and Standart report the same. Red Bull has not made any official announcement, so the prospect remains unconfirmed.
Why Mexico, and why now
Tsolov has previous time in Red Bull machinery. In August, he covered around 700 kilometres in a Racing Bulls car at Imola, drawing praise from engineer Alan Permane for his composure and quick adaptation. That test used cars from a previous regulatory era. A Friday practice slot in Mexico would put him in a current 2026-spec car, giving Red Bull engineers more directly usable data.
The timing is also tied to broader driver planning. Red Bull management wants to assess Tsolov in a current car before finalising its lineup for next season, decisions that will also affect the positions of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad within the organisation. The approach has precedent: in 2023, Isack Hadjar completed his first Friday practice session with AlphaTauri at the same Mexican circuit while still racing in Formula 2, a path that led to a full F1 seat.
