Racing Bulls confirms Tsolov’s Formula 1 promotion: “He is next in line”

Racing Bulls has a good problem on its hands for the 2027 Formula 1 season. With two solid drivers currently in its lineup and no changes planned at Red Bull, the energy drink brand’s junior team appears to have three drivers vying for two seats next year, as Nikola Tsolov is already viewed by Alan Permane as “next in line.”

Speaking to the press at Spa-Francorchamps, the Racing Bulls team principal addressed the driver choice for 2027. In addition to praising Tsolov—who currently leads the F2 standings with a 27-point buffer over Gabriele Minì—Permane assured that a step up to Formula 1 is well on track for the Bulgarian driver.

However, Permane did not guarantee that the promotion will happen as early as 2027. At present, Racing Bulls fields the promising Arvid Lindblad, a rookie in the 2026 season, and Liam Lawson, who has scored 39 points across ten rounds so far. Consequently, the head of the Faenza-based squad deferred any decision regarding next year’s lineup until the end of the current campaign.

“He is doing amazingly well. He’s leading F2 now after an excellent weekend at Silverstone, so saying he’s on our radar would be an understatement. I think it’s fair to say he is next in line. When that will happen, honestly, I don’t know. And it’s no lie to say that right now, we’re not thinking about it,” Permane commented.

“He’s out there doing his job while we’re doing ours, and I’m sure later this year we will make a decision on if—or when—he will be promoted to Racing Bulls,” the team boss added.

Permane went on to reiterate Racing Bulls’ objective of grooming young drivers for future promotion to Red Bull. In doing so, he placed part of the responsibility on Laurent Mekies, team principal of the Milton Keynes-based main squad in F1.

“That is undoubtedly the goal for both drivers, and my goal—as well as the team’s—is to develop drivers for Red Bull. Going into details is much more a question for Laurent, but I believe we need to put both of them in a position where they are ready for it. And if and when Laurent needs another driver, he will have one or two options available to choose from,” Permane concluded.

Formula 1 returns July 24–26 in Budapest, host of the Hungarian GP, the 11th round of the 2026 season.