The F2 rookie racing into history: Nikola Tsolov’s road to F1.
- Olivia Fitchet
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
An impeccable showing in Formula 2's weekend at Silverstone sparked a major conversation, whether Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov has a chance to be promoted to Formula One.
The 19-year-old Bulgarian racing driver is currently in his rookie F2 season, driving for Campos as part of the Red Bull Junior Team.
In 2022, he made his single-seater debut competing in the Spanish F4 Championship racing with Campos Racing, securing the title after a record 13 victories, and with three races to go in the season.
Following this success, Tsolov was promoted straight to Formula 3, joining ART Grand Prix. For the youngest driver on the grid, it emerged a major learning experience, as he finished only 22nd in the standings.
Continuing with the same team for his second season in F3, this was where everything fell into place for Tsolov. He achieved three race wins, sprint victories and a maiden feature race win, finishing the season 11th overall. Which was an incredible comeback from his previous season.
In November 2024, Tsolov left the Alpine Academy and signed with the Red Bull Junior Team, one that has led to drivers being promoted to the highest league of motorsport, Formula One.
Tsolov’s third season in F3, though, proved game-changing. A reunion with the Campos franchise brought about his best season yet, as Tsolov finished second in the championship with 124 points. He would also tie the record set by then F3 champion Rafa Câmara, with five F3 wins in total.
Apart from becoming the first Bulgarian to ever win a race in F3, his haul would contribute heavily to the constructors championship for Campos.
Campos promoted Tsolov early into F2, putting him in the car for the final two rounds of the 2025 season. He qualified 7th in his Lusail debut and scored his maiden F2 podium in the Yas Marina Sprint, his place in the F2 2026 season was confirmed before the season was over.
Round 1 of his 2026 F2 season took place in Melbourne, as Tsolov qualified fifth and left the first race of the season with a victory. He became the first Bulgarian to ever win an F2 race, leading the championship in the opening weekend of his rookie season. A sign of things to come, potentially.
Tsolov’s first visit to Miami for Round 2wasn't easy facing some technical problems in Free Practice, though he still managed to grab a reverse-grid pole for the Sprint, converting this into a win.
The Feature race wasn't successful, with contact on the opening laps causing him to retire from the race. Despite the incident, he would still keep a hold of his championship lead.
Tsolov would then endure an unlucky in Montreal, before taking a feature race win in Monaco, third in the Barcelona sprint, a feature race win in Spielberg and an incredible double victory weekend in Silverstone.
Despite the concerns of Silverstone presenting the toughest challenge of the season, Tsolov left the weekend with both race trophies, being the first driver to get a hat-trick of wins in F2 history and a 17-point lead in the championship.
Winning both the Sprint and the Feature Race in the same weekend which hasn't been done by an F2 driver since Zane Maloney back in 2024.
That weekend Tsolov also hit a total of six wins in his F2 career matching 2021 F2 championship winner Oscar Piastri's most wins in a season. With five race weekends left, Tsolov has the opportunity to match or exceed the record which is seven set by both F2 championship winners Charles Leclerc in 2017 and George Russell in 2018.
The aforementioned drivers eventualy became F2 champions and made it to some of the biggest names in Formula 1. If Tsolov continues along this trajectory, there remains every chance of making history and climbing up to Red Bull's F1 operation in the future.
Over his racing career, Tsolov has presented raw talent and dedication. Despite having some difficult seasons all eyes will be set on this season and its last seven races.
He is surrounded by people who are in full support of him, Adrian Campos, Team Principal at the Campos team spoke high words of his young star. “He does everything so easily, and that is surprising everyone. And to be honest, I really hope that he gets a chance in F1. He really deserves it.”
Currently only 21 drivers have made the transition from F2 to F1, with Tsolov’s current stats it showcases his potential to succeed in this sport. One day we might see him fighting for the F1 championship.
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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