At 9:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez will see Bulgarian rookie Nikola Tsolov take the wheel of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) Formula 1 car, marking his debut in an official FIA session. VCARB announced the switch on its website.
BTA reported that Tsolov, who has been with the Red Bull Junior Team since 2025, will replace New Zealand driver Liam Lawson for the first free‑practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix. Racing Bulls confirmed that Tsolov will drive Lawson’s car for the scheduled hour.
In a press‑release statement, Tsolov thanked VCARB for the opportunity and reflected on his 700‑km test run at Imola, saying:
Tsolov said, "Following my test with the team at Imola in August, I’m excited to take this next step, build on that experience, and learn more about the car and the current regulations. I’ll focus on making the most of the session, working closely with the team and providing useful feedback."
Team principal Alan Permane added that putting Tsolov behind the wheel demonstrates VCARB’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent, noting:
Permane said, "Having already worked with Nikola at Imola, we’re looking forward to seeing him build on that experience in Mexico and to the feedback he can provide to help support our preparations for the weekend."
He added a note about the driver’s recent Red Bull accolades, including the 2022 Spanish F4 title and a runner‑up finish in the 2025 FIA Formula 3 Championship, and his current campaign in FIA Formula 2 with Campos Racing.
New Zealand outlet RNZ echoed the move, stating that Lawson will hand his Formula 1 car to Tsolov for an hour during the Mexican GP weekend. The article did not indicate uncertainty about the replacement.
The development follows Tsolov’s successful Imola test, which satisfied FIA requirements for a full racing licence and demonstrated his readiness for F1‑level competition.