The world of Formula 1 is abuzz with speculation as the sport's top teams eye up their future drivers. Among the names in the spotlight is Bulgarian racing sensation Nikola Tsolov, who has been making waves in the lower formulae and is now firmly on the radar of Red Bull's Racing Bulls team. With an impressive season in Formula 2 under his belt, Tsolov has emerged as a leading candidate from Red Bull's junior program, leaving his rivals in the dust.
Permane, the team principal, has offered his clearest indication yet that Tsolov is at the front of the queue, should an opportunity arise. "He’s doing incredibly well," Permane said. "To say he’s on the radar would be a little bit of an understatement. He’s next in line, I think is fair to say."
Tsolov's rise to prominence is all the more remarkable given his recent performances. After finishing runner-up in Formula 3 last season, he stepped up to F2 and has since dominated the category with four Feature Race victories. His success has not gone unnoticed, and the speculation that he could move into Formula 1 next season is only growing.
The 19-year-old's talent is undeniable, and his performances have only strengthened the belief that he could be the next big thing in the sport. However, Permane stopped short of confirming when a promotion could occur, insisting that Racing Bulls had not yet reached the point of making a decision over its future line-up.
"When that will be, I don’t know, honestly," Permane said. "It’s not an untruth to say we’re not thinking about it at the moment. He’s there, he’s doing his job, we’re doing our job, and we’ll make a call if and when he comes up to Racing Bulls later this year."
The comments come amid continued uncertainty over other drivers, such as Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, who are yet to be confirmed at Racing Bulls beyond the current season. The reports claiming Tsolov had already secured a Formula 1 seat indicated that 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.
"It’s very early days," Lawson said ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. "It’s been a very good season so far. We’ve enjoyed a lot, obviously a lot to learn with these cars, and we’re doing that every single weekend, and we’re in a good place, but obviously trying to keep that momentum going. It’s very early days for those kinds of conversations, but I’m honestly very happy, and we’re all pretty happy."
Lawson has strengthened his position during the opening part of the season by scoring points in seven of the first nine rounds. His form has continued a significant turnaround following a difficult start to the 2025 campaign, when he was dropped by Red Bull after only two races before rebuilding his confidence at Racing Bulls.
"I feel I’m in a good place, I feel like I’ve learned a lot over the last 12 months," Lawson said in Austria. "Things are working well at the moment."
Lindblad has also impressed during his rookie campaign, leaving Racing Bulls with two drivers capable of consistently challenging near the front of the midfield. The pair helped the team record four consecutive double points finishes heading into the Belgian Grand Prix weekend, lifting Racing Bulls to sixth in the constructors’ championship and within one point of Alpine.
Permane acknowledged the team may eventually need to manage the rivalry between Lawson and Lindblad as both continue to push for their futures within the Red Bull structure. "It’s good to have two quick guys, that’s for sure," Permane said. "I’m sure there’ll be some management needed. 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."
Permane added that preparing Lawson and Lindblad for a potential promotion to Red Bull Racing remained one of the team’s key responsibilities, particularly if an opening became available alongside or in place of Max Verstappen. "I think that’s the goal of both our guys, for sure. And the goal of mine and our team is to develop drivers for that team," Permane said. "I think going to specifics is far more questionable than we’re on. But I think we need to put them both in a position that they’re ready to do that. And if and when [we need] another driver, [we’ve got] one or two to choose from."
Both drivers will start in the top 10 for the Belgian Grand Prix, with Lindblad starting seventh and Lawson ninth. As the season unfolds, the question remains: will Tsolov's rise to the top be the next big story in Formula 1?
