News summary
- Nikola Tsolov leads the 2026 Formula 2 championship but needs another strong weekend at Monza to strengthen his case for a potential 2027 F1 promotion.
- Liam Lawson’s strong form at Red Bull has complicated Tsolov’s path, while Arvid Lindblad also remains a strong candidate within the Red Bull driver pool.
- Tsolov has six wins in 2026, but he needs consistency, victories and potentially his first pole position to further impress Red Bull.
Nikola Tsolov leads Formula 2 with a relatively comfortable advantage over Gabriele Minì in what has the potential to become one of the most dominant campaigns since the category adopted its current name in 2017. Even so, the Bulgarian needs to provide some answers starting this weekend in Italy, not only to remain in a strong position in the title fight but also with the next step of his career within the Red Bull group in mind.
Although the FIA does not classify Formula 2 as a World Championship, the category carries significant weight in a driver’s career. The series can be viewed as a showcase where competitors put their talent on display to attract the attention of teams across different areas of motorsport. The focus is almost always Formula 1, but many drivers are forced to recalculate their paths and move into Formula E, IndyCar or endurance racing.
Every now and then, however, simply winning the F2 title is not enough to earn promotion to F1, just as failing to win the championship does not mean a driver will miss out on a seat in motorsport’s premier category. Leonardo Fornaroli, for example, won the title last year and is still fighting to secure a place in F1. Arvid Lindblad, meanwhile, was promoted to Racing Bulls in 2026 after finishing only sixth in the 2025 championship.
It is precisely within this scenario, which involves several variables, that Tsolov’s situation stands out. Considering the Bulgarian’s record, an opportunity in Formula 1 with Racing Bulls, following a path similar to Lindblad’s, would appear to be a natural progression. After all, he challenged for the Formula 3 title in 2025 and, in his first full F2 season in 2026, leads the championship and has already won six races. For comparison, only Charles Leclerc in 2017 and George Russell in 2018 achieved as many victories during their respective title-winning campaigns: both won seven races.
However, when the Red Bull driver pool is considered as a whole, the balance shifts somewhat against the Bulgarian. That is because Liam Lawson has emerged as a strong candidate to remain at Racing Bulls. After a difficult spell with Red Bull in 2025, the New Zealander returned to the Faenza-based team and was regularly outperformed by Isack Hadjar.
In 2026, however, the picture changed. Lawson adapted to the regulations and currently sits ninth in the Drivers’ Championship, behind only drivers representing the four leading teams: Mercedes, McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull.
As if Lawson’s strong Racing Bulls campaign were not enough to strengthen his case for 2027, Red Bull called him up to replace Isack Hadjar at the Dutch GP. This time, Liam performed well in the Red Bull, scored points and showed that he can still be a valuable asset for the team. The other seat at Faenza belongs to Lindblad, who is also putting together an impressive rookie campaign and has considerable room for further development. As a result, a switch appears unlikely.
Uncertainty surrounding Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull had offered Tsolov a glimmer of hope. With a seat opening at the senior team, Lawson or Lindblad could have been promoted, potentially creating an opportunity for the Bulgarian. However, the confirmation that the four-time World Champion will remain with the team through 2030 has made Tsolov’s future even more uncertain.
Even so, Nikola’s chances are far from over. Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane has already said the driver is viewed as “next in line” for a Formula 1 promotion. However, for that line to move forward, the Bulgarian will need to continue delivering standout performances, and the next answer must come at the upcoming round in Italy.
That is because, before F2 entered its summer break, Tsolov made a costly mistake in the Hungarian Sprint. After crashing out following an overambitious move in a battle with Sebastián Montoya, he was also handed a grid penalty for Race 2 and finished only seventh, allowing Minì and Rafael Câmara to close the gap.
Therefore, simply managing his 20-point advantage and securing the F2 title may not be enough for Tsolov to earn an F1 seat. The Bulgarian will also need high-level performances, including wins and even pole positions — something he has yet to achieve — to further impress Red Bull. All of this comes while he deals with the dual pressure of fighting for the championship and pursuing a full-time seat for the 2027 season.
Tsolov enters the Italian weekend as the F2 championship leader with 167 points, 20 ahead of Minì and 22 clear of Câmara. Monza marks the 10th round of the 2026 season and the first event after the long summer break.
The Italian weekend could therefore be an important test of whether Tsolov can turn his impressive F2 statistics into the kind of performance Red Bull needs to see before committing to his next step. With six wins and eight podiums already in 2026, the Bulgarian has established his credentials; now, consistency and execution could be what separates a championship campaign from a genuine F1 promotion case.
Formula 2 resumes its 2026 season this weekend with the Italian round at Monza. GRANDE PRÊMIO will provide complete coverage of the weekend and all the latest developments surrounding the F2 title fight and the 2027 F1 driver market.
For more coverage of the feeder series and the battle for future Formula 1 seats, follow the F2 section of GRANDE PRÊMIO.
FAQ
1. Why does Nikola Tsolov need a strong result at Monza?
Tsolov leads the 2026 F2 championship, but his battle for a potential 2027 F1 seat remains open. Strong performances in the second half of the season could strengthen his case with Red Bull, particularly as Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are also performing well.
2. Who are Tsolov’s main rivals for a Racing Bulls seat?
Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are currently the main obstacles to Tsolov’s promotion. Lawson has established himself as Racing Bulls’ team leader in 2026, while Lindblad has impressed during his rookie F1 season. Racing Bulls has acknowledged Tsolov as “next in line,” but has not committed to promoting him in 2027.
3. How many races has Tsolov won in the 2026 F2 season?
Tsolov has six victories and eight podium finishes in the 2026 F2 season so far. He heads into the Italian round with 167 points, holding a 20-point advantage over Gabriele Minì.
