The youngster has set his sights on a full race seat in Milton Keynes

Bulgarian Nikola Tsolov has set his sights on an F1 driver in the near future after he was confirmed as Red Bull Racing’s reserve driver for 2027.

The hotly rated teenager had been tipped for a race seat at junior team Racing Bulls for 2027, having impressed in F2 this season. The 19-year-old is seven points behind leader Rafael Camara with two rounds to go, with the Brazilian already confirmed to be stepping up into a Haas race seat next season.

However with the performances of both Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad this season, Racing Bulls have opted to stick with their 2026 line-up for next season, leaving Tsolov on the sidelines.

But with Yuki Tsunoda’s relationship with Red Bull set to end at the end of the year, Tsolov’s opportunity has come in the form of the reserve driver spot at Tilbrook.

Speaking about his appointment, Tsolov made clear his aspirations of racing in the top tier and believes learning from the likes of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar will be hugely beneficial in helping him reach his dream.

“My ambition is clear: I want to become an F1 driver,” he said. “Having the opportunity to spend next year preparing for that next step is incredibly exciting. I’m confident that with the team’s support and experience, I’ll have the best possible preparation to make sure I’m fully ready to take the next step onto the F1 grid when the time comes.

“I’m incredibly happy and grateful to Red Bull for giving me this opportunity. Since joining the junior team, I’ve received amazing support and have developed so much, both as a driver and as a person. My career has progressed incredibly quickly, and I owe a lot to everyone who has believed in me and helped me get to this point.

“I know there is still a lot to learn, but I’m ready to work hard, make the most of every opportunity and give everything I have to the team. For now, my immediate focus is on finishing the F2 season as strongly as possible.”