FIA Formula 2 (F2) CEO Bruno Michel believes Nikola Tsolov has demonstrated the ability to compete in F1, although he acknowledges that Racing Bulls faces a difficult decision when selecting its 2027 driver line-up. His assessment comes as championship rival Rafael Câmara prepares to join Haas, while Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad continue fighting to secure their futures within the Red Bull organisation.
During an October 2026 virtual media event attended by Pit Debrief, Michel discussed the progression of F2 graduates into F1, highlighting Câmara’s promotion as another important achievement for the junior championship. He also praised Tsolov’s performances throughout the season, identifying his consistency and approach to racing as important qualities.
However, Michel emphasised that evaluating a driver’s readiness for F1 differs from deciding whether they should receive a race seat. With Racing Bulls yet to confirm its 2027 line-up, the team must assess Tsolov’s potential alongside the performances of its current drivers.
Michel welcomes Câmara’s promotion to Haas
Câmara’s confirmation as a Haas driver for 2027 represents another significant achievement for a graduate of the FIA’s junior single-seater pathway. The Brazilian will partner fellow Ferrari Driver Academy member Ollie Bearman, following consecutive championship-winning campaigns in Formula Regional and F3.
The 21-year-old has also established himself among the leading competitors during his rookie F2 season with Invicta Racing. Having secured Feature Race victories in Spain, Belgium and Azerbaijan, Câmara enters the final two rounds with 207 points and a seven-point advantage over Tsolov.
Michel welcomed Haas’ decision, emphasising the importance of F1 teams continuing to place confidence in drivers progressing through F2.
“For us, it’s fantastic news. As I always say, the main mission of F2 is to prepare drivers for Formula 1 and to make sure that when they get there, they’re ready. It’s always very important that the F1 teams are keeping their trust in what we’re doing to prepare the drivers. I’m really, really happy for Rafa. He’s having a fantastic season. He had a fantastic F3 season before anyway. I think it’s to be deserved, but yes, it’s very, very, very important for us.”
Câmara’s promotion continues a pathway that has already brought several recent F2 graduates into F1, reinforcing the championship’s position as the final stage of the junior single-seater ladder.
Câmara’s early F1 debut reinforces Haas’ confidence
Although Michel’s comments followed the October announcement of Câmara’s 2027 contract, subsequent developments have brought the Brazilian’s F1 debut forward.
On 3 November, Haas confirmed that Câmara would compete at the São Paulo GP, replacing Esteban Ocon following the team’s decision not to reinstate the Frenchman for the remaining rounds of 2026.
The announcement followed an unexpected change during the Mexico City GP weekend, when reserve driver Ryō Hirakawa replaced Ocon and finished tenth on his F1 race debut. However, Hirakawa’s World Endurance Championship commitments prevent him from competing in Brazil, creating an opportunity for Câmara to begin his Haas career earlier than originally planned.
The Ferrari junior had already impressed the team during a Testing of Previous Cars programme at Portimão in August, where he drove Haas’ 2025 VF-25. That experience provided an opportunity to familiarise himself with F1 machinery and the team’s engineering procedures.
His early promotion offers another example of the confidence F1 teams have placed in drivers emerging from F2. Nevertheless, Câmara must also balance his F1 preparations with the remaining rounds of his championship campaign, where he continues pursuing the Drivers’ title.
Tsolov demonstrates consistency during F2 title challenge
While Câmara has secured his F1 future, Tsolov remains among the drivers seeking an opportunity to graduate from F2.
The Bulgarian has established himself as one of the championship’s strongest competitors during 2026, regularly challenging for victories while maintaining a position near the top of the standings.
His performances have demonstrated strong race management and an ability to recover from difficult circumstances, although several setbacks have prevented him from building a decisive championship advantage.
The Azerbaijan weekend illustrated those contrasting qualities. Tsolov arrived leading Câmara by seven points but lost that advantage after retiring from Feature Race 1. Nevertheless, he recovered from 11th to finish second in Feature Race 2, limiting the damage to his title aspirations.
The recovery at Baku proved particularly significant because Campos Racing had struggled for pace earlier in the event. Changes to the car and a successful alternative strategy subsequently allowed Tsolov to challenge the leaders.
Although he now trails Câmara by seven points, his championship challenge remains firmly alive ahead of Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
Michel believes Tsolov has demonstrated F1 readiness
Tsolov’s performances have also strengthened speculation surrounding a potential Racing Bulls seat for 2027, particularly as the team continues assessing its driver options.
The Bulgarian remains part of the Red Bull development programme, providing a potential pathway into F1 through Racing Bulls. However, the availability of seats presents a different challenge from demonstrating competitive performance in F2.
Asked whether Tsolov was ready to compete in F1, Michel expressed confidence in the Bulgarian’s abilities while emphasising that he could not predict the team’s eventual decision.
“The answer is yes, I think he’s ready. The answer is not that I know he will be in Formula 1 next year, so that’s a different answer. But yes, I think Nikola is having a great season. I think the fight he’s having with Rafa is very, very interesting. They have their ups and downs, both of them. But Nikola is a very capable driver and he’s also very consistent. So, yes, my answer is he’s very engaged in his work. And it’s very good to see that those two drivers are both very good and both behaving so well in the championship this year. And that’s generally a very strong sign of drivers’ ability.”
Michel’s assessment highlights Tsolov’s consistency and professional approach as important indicators of his potential, although Racing Bulls has yet to confirm whether it will offer him a race seat.
Mexico City FP1 gives Tsolov further F1 experience
Tsolov subsequently strengthened his preparations for a potential promotion by completing his first official F1 practice session at the 2026 Mexico City GP.
The Bulgarian replaced Lawson during FP1, driving the Racing Bulls VCARB 03 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. He completed 29 laps and finished 12th, recording a best time of 1:19.604.
His performance placed him just 0.126 seconds behind Lindblad, who finished tenth in the other Racing Bulls entry. Although the session offered limited opportunities for direct comparison, the result provided encouraging evidence of Tsolov’s ability to adapt to F1 machinery.
The Mexico City FP1 appearance followed an earlier Testing of Previous Cars outing at Imola and additional simulator preparation with the team.
However, Tsolov also encountered a seat-related problem that briefly affected the feeling in his right leg, requiring a short interruption before he returned to the circuit.
Despite that difficulty, he completed a productive programme and gained further experience of the demands associated with F1.
The outing represented another important step in his development, although it did not provide confirmation of a future race seat.
Racing Bulls faces difficult 2027 driver decision
Tsolov’s potential promotion has created uncertainty surrounding Racing Bulls’ existing line-up, with Lawson and Lindblad both hoping to retain their seats for 2027.
Lawson has established himself as a competitive midfield driver, while Lindblad has demonstrated considerable potential during his rookie campaign. Both progressed through the junior single-seater categories before securing F1 opportunities, creating a situation in which the team must weigh experience against the potential benefits of promoting another young driver.
The decision also involves several members of Red Bull’s management structure, with Racing Bulls Team Principal Alan Permane, Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies and Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer among those involved in evaluating the organisation’s future line-up.
Michel acknowledged the complexity of those decisions and stressed that his role does not extend to choosing drivers for F1 teams.
“Well, you know, I would say it’s not my place to decide what F1 team is having as drivers. It’s really the team principal’s decision. And in this very specific instance, it’s Alan Permane, Laurent Mekies, Peter Bayer. And they will be the ones deciding. All I can say is that when I think the driver is ready, I can say I think he’s ready.”
Lawson and Lindblad strengthen cases for 2027
Although Tsolov has emerged as a potential candidate, Lawson and Lindblad have continued demonstrating their competitiveness during the 2026 F1 season.
Lawson has accumulated valuable experience since returning to Racing Bulls in 2025, while his performances during the current campaign have strengthened his claim to remain in the category. Most recently, the New Zealander recovered to seventh at the Mexico City GP after starting from the pit lane following his qualifying disqualification.
Lindblad has also shown promising pace during his rookie campaign, frequently competing within the midfield and reaching Q3 at several events. His performances have demonstrated his potential, although he continues gaining experience against substantially more established competitors.
Michel acknowledged the strengths of all three drivers while emphasising the uncertainty involved in predicting their future performances.
“After that, maybe they think I’m right, maybe they think I’m wrong. That’s the other thing. Because nobody’s having a clear crystal ball for that. But, you know, I think Nikola is having a great season.
He continued, “I think Liam [Lawson] is doing quite good. I agree with you for the last three seats, definitely. I think Arvid [Lindblad] is doing very well as well. So, it will be a difficult choice. And I’m very glad it’s not mine.”
F2 success does not guarantee an F1 opportunity
Michel’s comments highlight an important distinction between preparing a driver for F1 and securing an opportunity to compete in the championship.
Câmara has already completed that progression, with Haas confirming his promotion before his F2 campaign has concluded. His early debut at São Paulo further demonstrates the confidence the American outfit has placed in his development and ability to adapt.
Tsolov, meanwhile, continues building his case through competitive F2 performances and additional F1 experience. However, his prospects remain dependent on Racing Bulls’ assessment of its existing drivers and the longer-term direction of its programme.
The situation also reflects the limited number of opportunities available to junior drivers. Even when multiple competitors demonstrate sufficient ability to race in F1, teams must make difficult decisions about which drivers best suit their sporting objectives.
Michel has expressed confidence in Tsolov’s readiness without dismissing the performances of Lawson or Lindblad, leaving the final decision with Red Bull’s management.
As the 2027 F1 grid continues to take shape, Racing Bulls remains one of the few teams yet to finalise its line-up. The eventual decision will determine whether another F2 graduate joins the championship or whether the team retains its current pairing.
For now, Tsolov’s immediate priority remains the 2026 F2 title battle, where he continues challenging Câmara for the championship with two rounds remaining.
