Bayer discloses Red Bull's strategy for Tsolov's F1 testing.
"He's still short on a few kilometres."
Red Bull is gearing up to provide emerging Formula 2 talent Nikola Tsolov with his first real experience in modern Formula 1 cars. As speculation mounts regarding the Bulgarian's potential to replace Liam Lawson at Racing Bulls in 2027, team CEO Peter Bayer has disclosed that a Test of Previous Cars (TPC) session is already being arranged.
"We're looking into having him participate in a TPC test, as he needs a license to take part in Friday practice sessions," Bayer stated. "He's still a few kilometres short. We're aiming for that in the autumn."
This initiative would enable Tsolov to acquire the necessary license for Formula 1 practice sessions before he is expected to make his FP1 debut later in the season. The announcement comes on the heels of Tsolov's commanding win in Formula 2 at the Red Bull Ring, which has increased calls for the 19-year-old to be fast-tracked into a higher role.
However, Bayer also dampened the fresh rumors that a seat with Racing Bulls for 2027 has already been finalized. "Those are merely rumors," he emphasized. "He's doing an excellent job and is a tremendous talent we definitely have on our radar. But we’ve only had seven races so far, and Liam and Arvid are performing exceptionally well too. So that's not a concern at the moment."
If Tsolov clinches this year's Formula 2 title, though, Red Bull will need to make a choice, as champions are not allowed to stay in the category.
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