Nikola Tsolov can see the path opening towards Formula 1, but Bulgaria’s brightest racing hope insists he won’t let the possibility of a 2027 seat distract him from the job still in front of him in Formula 2.
The Red Bull backed driver has made himself one of the standout names of the F2 season, combining race wins with the consistency needed to stay in the championship fight. That matters because Racing Bulls have become a clear route into F1 for junior drivers within the Red Bull system.
In recent seasons, Campos Racing has played a key role in that pathway. Isack Hadjar and Arvid Lindblad both progressed after time with the team in the junior categories, with Hadjar earning his maiden F1 podium at Zandvoort before moving up to Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen for 2026. Lindblad has also impressed in his first F1 campaign, scoring points three times, including a strong seventh place in Monaco.
Tsolov is aware of the opportunity, but he is not allowing it to become a distraction.
Tsolov clear on what F1 teams want
“For me, what I need to do is clear,” said Tsolov to Total-Motorsport.com. “It’s performing in Formula 2, showing my potential and my ability, speed, and pace, demonstrating maturity and consistency as well. So I think, so far this season, I’ve been doing the right things I need to do to step up.
“Obviously, there’s stuff off track that you need to work on, such as feedback, et cetera, with engineers. Formula 1 teams look at a full package that they want for their lineups.
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“I’m doing my best, and that’s all I know. That’s all I need to know. And then once an opportunity opens, I need to be prepared for it, which I do feel [I am], and that’s it.”
That grounded outlook has been matched by results. After winning the Feature Race in Melbourne and the Sprint in Miami, Tsolov endured three pointless races before returning to form in Monaco, a circuit where he had already won in Formula 3.
Starting second alongside former F3 champion Rafa Camara, Tsolov spent much of the Feature Race locked behind the Brazilian. With overtaking notoriously difficult around Monte Carlo, Campos committed to an undercut on lap 32, pitting Tsolov before Camara responded one lap later.
The move paid off. With warmer tyres, Tsolov put Camara under immediate pressure, and the Brazilian locked up into Ste Devote on lap 35 before taking to the escape road. From there, Tsolov controlled the race to claim his second Monaco victory and third win of the season.
“I didn’t really expect to win that race when we started it,” Tsolov reflected. “You know [at] Monaco once you’re sitting in second, it’s very difficult to move forward. So, at some point, I accepted and was just happy to take the points we were going to take that weekend, but then, obviously, an undercut opportunity opened. We took it and then put Rafa under pressure.
“It was really cool to have a race in Monaco where you don’t win starting first, and you actually fought for that lead, which doesn’t happen very often. I’m glad I took part in that race, and obviously, Monaco has always been great for me, so it’s a place where I feel most confident.”
Tight F2 title fight leaves no room to breathe
Two top five finishes in Barcelona have left Tsolov second in the F2 standings heading to the Austria round at the Red Bull Ring. The title race is finely balanced, with the top four covered by just 19 points.
At the front is Gabriele Mini, Tsolov’s former Alpine Academy team-mate, whose consistency, five podiums and Feature Race win in Miami have given him a six-point advantage. Camara responded to his Monaco frustration with a Feature Race victory in Barcelona, while Alex Dunne remains fourth despite not yet winning this season.
Tsolov believes the strength at the top of the field means every small gain matters.
“The grid is really strong, and everyone’s feeling really well in terms of points,” said Tsolov. If you check, for example, last year at the same moment, the leader had almost 20 points fewer, so we are 20 points ahead of what we should be right now.
“So we are moving quite fast away from the others, and there are different types of competition, obviously. With Gabriele, he’s extremely consistent, and he’s just able to score points in every race. He’s using his experience to do that and understand the championship very well.
“And then on the other hand, you have Rafa, who’s extremely fast and [has] pure pace; he’s gonna be tough to beat for the whole year, so I’ll just try to get both qualities and extract the best from both of them.”
That balance may prove decisive. Tsolov has the speed, the backing and the route towards F1, but his own message is simple: perform now, stay ready, and let the opportunity come when it comes.
