On Thursday, the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez hosted the first free‑practice session of the Mexico City Grand Prix, where Bulgarian race driver Nikola Tsolov will take the wheel of the Visa Cash App Racing Bulls (VCARB) Formula 1 car for the first time in an official FIA session.
Tsolov, who joined the Red Bull Junior Programme in 2025, had already completed a 700‑kilometre test at Imola in August, which earned him an FIA licence and the opportunity to drive in Mexico. His junior career includes winning the Spanish F4 Championship in 2022 and finishing runner‑up in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2025. He is currently competing in the FIA Formula 2 season with Campos Racing, where he is a title contender for the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
“A big thank you to VCARB for giving me this opportunity in Mexico,” Tsolov said in the press release released by the team. “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.”
“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,” added VCARB Team Principal Alan Permane.
During the session, Tsolov will share the seat of Liam Lawson’s car, a move that reflects VCARB’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent and providing junior drivers with valuable track time and development support.