Nikola Swaps His Sneakers for Barefoot Shoes

Nikola Tsolov no longer wears his usual sports sneakers off the car. The Bulgarian driver has switched to so-called “barefoot shoes” – a minimalist design meant to let the foot move and work as naturally as possible.

The change might look like a curious detail of his kit, but behind it lies a very specific idea. This was explained to FormulaBG by Nikola’s physiotherapist, Dimitar Gaydov, from the Spider Sport conditioning training centre, according to whom the main advantage of these shoes is that they don’t interrupt the feedback between the foot and the ground.

What Exactly Are “Barefoot Shoes”?

Unlike standard sneakers, which usually have a thicker sole, cushioning, and a relatively narrow toe box, barefoot shoes have a thin, flexible sole, minimal heel-to-toe drop, and more room at the front.

They don’t mean walking literally barefoot. The foot stays protected from rough surfaces and sharp objects, but the shoe interferes far less with its natural movement.

The model Nikola uses is also designed for rougher terrain. According to Dimitar Gaydov, even thinner versions exist, but with those, moving on anything other than a completely flat surface becomes much harder. So the choice is a compromise between ground feel and the protection needed for everyday wear on different surfaces.

More Room for the Toes

One of the most important differences is at the front of the shoe.

“The important thing is that they’re wide at the front, in the toe area. They don’t squeeze the toes together,” Gaydov explained.

This design lets the toes sit more naturally when stepping. Instead of the foot being held together and supported almost entirely by the shoe, the foot’s muscles and arch have to take a more active role in movement.

That’s precisely one of the core ideas behind minimalist shoes. They’re designed to interfere as little as possible with the foot’s natural function and to preserve the feel of the ground.

Why Does This Matter for a Driver?

For drivers, development rarely comes down to just gym work or hours in the simulator. Work also goes into balance, coordination, stability, and body-position awareness, and the feet are the foundation of that entire system.

For Tsolov, the shoes aren’t some sought-after “trick” that will suddenly shave tenths off his lap time. They’re part of a holistic approach that pays attention even to details that usually stay off camera.

In the car, a driver’s feet carry out extremely precise movements, especially on the brake pedal. Barefoot shoes, of course, don’t replace racing boots in the cockpit, but in everyday training they can be used as a tool for working on the foot, its sensitivity, and its activity.

What Does the Research Show?

The topic isn’t just about athletes’ personal preferences. A study published in Scientific Reports found an increase in foot strength among participants who used minimalist shoes in daily life over a period of six months.

Another study, published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, concludes that walking in minimalist shoes can have an effect on foot muscle size and strength similar to performing dedicated foot-strengthening exercises.

That doesn’t mean everyone should make the switch abruptly, though. Moving from standard, thick-soled shoes to minimalist models usually requires gradual adaptation, since the load on the foot and lower leg changes.

A Small Detail From a Bigger Preparation

For the wider public, Nikola’s shoes will probably remain a curious detail from his appearances off the track. For his team, though, it’s another piece of the preparation – keeping the foot from being passively locked inside a sneaker, so it retains its natural movement and feedback from the ground.

In motorsport, there’s constant talk about feel for the car. In this case, the preparation starts one step earlier – with the feel for the ground beneath the feet.

—Article prepared by Lyubomir Asenov and Tanya Peneva.