Nikola Tsolov talks to Pitlane24 ahead of his first free practice in Mexico

Nikola Tsolov, a few hours before his first ever Formula 1 free practice session, at the Mexico City Grand Prix. In an exclusive conversation with PITLANE24.com, the Bulgarian talks about what this FP1 outing means for his future.

Nikola, are you happy?

I feel very happy and very fresh. What is happening to me feels like a new beginning, similar to how it felt at the end of last year, when I was starting out in Formula 2. Only now it is many times more special.

I think everyone knows the feeling of starting something new, and for the right reasons. Of course, I will need a bit more time to adapt to the whole atmosphere, but I feel very good.

How do you feel physically?

Physically I feel ready for anything that might be thrown at me. Trained, happy, calm and ready to get in the car.

Has the altitude of around 2,200 metres affected you?

It did for the first two nights, but today I feel brand new. I can say it is not affecting me at all any more.

Can you feel the support from Bulgaria?

I feel enormous support from Bulgaria, especially after the news that came out yesterday. I think everyone was expecting it to some degree, but it was like a present you have been waiting for: even though you know what is inside, you are still thrilled when you get it.

What should we expect from you in the first session? Is speed the priority, and what are the expectations, yours and the team’s?

No, speed is not the most important thing. I do not have any big expectations, because my only goal is to get to know the car. After all, I have never driven it.

Everyone I will be sharing the track with has already done 20 rounds this year, which is a lot. They are coming in prepared from last weekend in Austin. For me, this will be a session for getting to know the engineers, the atmosphere, the car itself and the way everything works with the battery.

I will give myself enough time to learn everything step by step, without taking big leaps that could lead to a problem. What matters to me is to bring the car back as good as new. I think that matters to the team as well.

How important is this step for what comes next in your career?

Very important. I see it as a golden opportunity to get to know this year’s cars. As we know, we cannot test them outside race weekends. I will make the most of this opportunity, and I am sure there will be more of them ahead.

What would you like to say, from the heart, to the fans in Bulgaria and around the world?

I want to wish them to feel the way I feel right now because of everything that is happening to me. I hope we get to live this moment all together. And of course, thank you so much for all the support, all the way through.

For me it is important that the attitude stays positive, not only towards me but towards everyone else too, the team and the other drivers. Let us keep showing that we are the most ambitious nation and the one that deserves this the most. For me it is important that we carry on with that positivity and support.