Red Bull officials have given extremely high marks to the Bulgarian’s performance in his first full test in a Formula 1 car. There’s still no official confirmation of an FP1 outing, but the next step already looks like a matter of finding the right moment.

Nikola Tsolov met with Racing Bulls representatives on Thursday at Monza, days after his first full test in a Formula 1 car. According to information obtained by FormulaBG, the main topic of the talks was his performance at Imola, and the feedback from the team has been more than positive.

Racing Bulls have come away very pleased, not just with the Bulgarian’s pace, but with the way he executed the programme he was given. Praised were his quick adaptation to the car, his work with the engineers, his focus over long runs, and the quality of the technical feedback he provided from the cockpit.

These are the details that rarely make headlines, but that actually determine whether a young driver gets his next opportunity. In Formula 1, a fast lap grabs attention. The ability to get through an entire working day without unnecessary mistakes and to give accurate feedback is what earns trust.

Imola Wasn’t a Demonstration

On 27 August, Tsolov covered nearly 700 kilometres in Racing Bulls’ VCARB02 as part of the Testing of Previous Cars programme. It was his first genuine working day in a Formula 1 car, following demonstration runs in older Red Bull machinery in Sofia and at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

At Imola, the goal wasn’t to produce an eye-catching time for social media. The car’s set-up was changed after almost every run, Nikola worked with different tyre compounds, and had to get used to the procedures, the steering-wheel controls, and the behaviour of a significantly more powerful and complex car.

Even during the test, his team confirmed to FormulaBG that Racing Bulls were pleased with the pace and the information they were getting from him. The official reaction after the day’s end was just as clear. Team boss Alan Permane called the test “a very positive step” and highlighted how quickly Tsolov adapted to the car and how calmly he approached his first day in a Formula 1 machine.

The meeting at Monza shows that the strong performance hasn’t just stayed a polite paragraph in a press release. The test data is already being discussed inside Red Bull’s system and used in planning the next steps of his development.

FP1 Is Now a Realistic Next Step

At this stage, there’s no official confirmation of when, or with which of Red Bull’s two teams, Nikola might get an FP1 outing. But after the Imola test, that possibility looks increasingly likely even before the end of the season.

Tsolov has already shown he can work through a Formula 1 car’s programme in full. He has the necessary mileage, knows Racing Bulls’ procedures, and left a strong impression on the engineers. In other words, the conversation is gradually shifting from “is he ready” to “which weekend is the right fit.”

FP1 won’t be a gift or a ceremonial reward. It’s a genuine part of the development of a driver Red Bull views as a prospect for the future. Back in the summer, Alan Permane already called Nikola “next in line” in the programme. After Imola, that description now has data behind it too.

The team will pick a moment that doesn’t interfere with its own programme or with Tsolov’s Formula 2 title fight. So the absence of an outing this Friday at Monza shouldn’t be read as a negative signal. On the contrary, everything suggests his development plan is on track and that FP1 is the logical next step.

Where to Expect the First FP1

If we look at the three most logical options on the remaining calendar, they are Austin, Mexico City and Abu Dhabi. All three are standard weekends without a sprint in 2026, which means three free-practice sessions and lowers the risk to the team’s programme. COTA offers varied corners and wide run-off areas, Mexico is traditionally a favoured venue for young-driver outings, and Yas Marina offers stable conditions, a familiar track and plenty of room for error. Abu Dhabi looks like the most natural choice, but if Red Bull wants to evaluate Nikola earlier, the back-to-back rounds in Austin and Mexico offer two excellent opportunities already this autumn. Of course, it will all also depend on the constructors’ fight, because the tighter the standings, the harder it will be for the team to sacrifice track time from one of its race drivers.

From Promising Talent to a Real F1 Prospect

The most important change after the last week is in how Tsolov now features in Red Bull’s conversations. He’s no longer just a fast driver from the junior programme, and not just Bulgaria’s Formula 1 hope. He’s a driver who has now been tested in a real F1 environment and delivered at the level the team expected.

The main job still lies ahead of him – the fight for the Formula 2 title and collecting the points needed for a full superlicence. That’s exactly what will determine how quickly the next big door can open. But from the team’s point of view, the Imola test gave the right answers.

The Monza meeting doesn’t mean a signed contract, and it isn’t an official FP1 announcement. Formula 1 rarely works that directly. But it is another sign that Nikola is part of Red Bull’s real plans, not just a name on a long list of juniors.

Imola was the exam. Monza was the conversation that followed it. And the next word is increasingly likely to be FP1.