A new step after the Imola test
Nikola Tsolov will drive for Racing Bulls in opening practice for the Mexico City Grand Prix, replacing Liam Lawson. Formula 2’s announcement on 28 October confirms the Bulgarian’s debut on a Formula 1 race weekend. The 60-minute session follows an August test with the team at Imola. Tsolov wants to build on that experience to understand the car and current regulations better while supplying useful feedback to the engineers.
From an F4 title to Campos in Formula 2
His official profile describes a single-seater career that began in 2022, when Tsolov won Spanish Formula 4. Three Formula 3 seasons followed, the last ending in second place with Campos in 2025. He joined the Red Bull Junior Team before that campaign and made his F2 debut at Lusail in the same year. In 2026 he is contesting his first complete season in the category while retaining continuity with the Spanish team.
Seven points separate the F2 leaders
The standings checked on 28 October put Tsolov second on 200 points, behind Rafael Câmara’s 207. Alexander Dunne is third with 189. The seven-point deficit is calculated from the official totals. An FP1 opportunity adds important experience, but his main championship contest this season remains open. The table supplies the competitive context surrounding the announcement without anticipating the final order or treating a practice assignment as a championship result.
| Driver | Points |
|---|---|
| Rafael Câmara | 207 |
| Nikola Tsolov | 200 |
| Alexander Dunne | 189 |
The wins show pace, the standings demand consistency
The official calendar records six Tsolov victories: the Feature Races in Melbourne, Monaco, Spielberg and Silverstone, plus the Miami and Silverstone Sprints. His success is therefore not limited to one format. APEX’s reading is that this record provides a more useful reference than the rookie label alone. For the closing rounds, the question is how consistently he can turn speed into points when each result can alter the gap between the leading contenders.
How to assess the first session
APEX analysis: the first useful comparison is between the prepared programme and the work completed on track. Lap times need to be read alongside tyres, fuel and each stint’s objectives. Clear feedback and repeatable driving references may matter more than one particularly fast lap. Without the complete context, the FP1 order cannot describe the entire adaptation. Practical markers for readers are continuity of running, the team’s explanations after the session and the way the driver identifies the next step in the work.
Mexico does not replace the F2 finale
Formula 2 resumes at Lusail on 27–29 November before concluding at Yas Marina on 4–6 December. Tsolov’s Mexico appearance belongs to his F1 programme rather than an additional F2 round. The experiences will meet in his development, but championship points will be decided in the remaining races. We will follow separately what he learns in practice with Racing Bulls and the results he subsequently achieves with Campos as the title contest reaches its conclusion.
