Racing Bulls Gives Nikola Tsolov Mexico FP1 Debut as 2027 Line-up Decision Nears

Liam Lawson is set to give up his Racing Bulls car for first practice at the 2026 Formula 1 Mexico City Grand Prix, making room for Nikola Tsolov. The session gives the 19-year-old a chance to work with the team’s current car and adds a trackside assessment to Racing Bulls’ deliberations over its 2027 drivers.

The timing puts the run in a sharp competitive context. Lawson is ninth in the drivers’ standings, and Racing Bulls is close to securing fifth in the constructors’ championship with five races remaining. His season has been strong after Red Bull let him go two races into last year. Tsolov, meanwhile, has made a case for himself with six F2 wins and a season that has kept him near the top of that championship.

For team boss Alan Permane, the choice is a matter of selecting two drivers from three strong options. Lawson and rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad have both contributed, while Tsolov’s results have put him in contention for a future place. Permane said the team expects to reach a decision in the coming weeks, without setting a specific date.

“I mean, we’re in no rush. I think everyone knows we’ve got two fantastic drivers,” Permane said. “But three doesn’t fit into two, of course, and we’re just going to take a little bit more time and make sure we get the right pairing for next year.”

That makes Tsolov’s outing at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez more than a chance to log practice miles. It offers Racing Bulls another opportunity to see how he approaches the car, works with its engineers and turns a session into useful feedback. One outing cannot settle the choice by itself, but it can add evidence while the team weighs the drivers’ performances and potential.

Tsolov’s F2 form sets up the opportunity

Tsolov has won six times in his debut F2 season and is 12 points behind championship leader Rafael Camara, who is due to join Haas in 2027. Those results have drawn Racing Bulls’ attention: the team has already shortlisted the Bulgarian for a full-time seat in the near future. Mexico gives him a chance to add experience in a current F1 car after testing with the team at Imola in August.

“A big thank you to VCARB for giving me this opportunity in Mexico,” Tsolov said. “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.”

His stated priorities are practical: make the most of the session, work closely with the team and provide useful feedback. For a young driver seeking a place on the grid, that means showing more than speed over a single lap. Engineers also need to understand what he can report about the car and how he handles a limited practice opportunity. The source gives no detail about a target lap time or a specific test programme, so the value of the session will depend on what Racing Bulls can learn from the work he completes.

Lawson’s results keep the choice difficult

Lawson’s position makes the decision harder to read as a simple promotion for the most promising newcomer. Ninth in the standings is a solid result, and Racing Bulls’ near-certain fifth place in the constructors’ championship reflects the team’s wider performance as the season enters its final five rounds. The article identifies Lawson as having had a strong year; it does not suggest that the Mexico substitution reflects a poor run of form.

Lindblad’s first season also matters. The rookie has, in the source’s assessment, pulled his weight alongside Lawson. That leaves the team balancing current results, development and the prospect of giving Tsolov a full-time opportunity. A driver’s practice outing can inform that judgment, but the team has not said that the Mexico appearance decides who will get a seat.

If Racing Bulls promotes Tsolov at Lawson’s expense, Lawson could spend at least a year away from F1 before a possible return. That consequence gives the 2027 choice weight for both drivers: Tsolov is trying to turn an impressive junior season into a place on the grid, while Lawson’s current results have kept him firmly in the discussion.

Permane’s timeline points to a decision in the coming weeks, but the team has not named a date. For now, Mexico is a useful next measure of Tsolov’s readiness, while Lawson and Lindblad remain part of the calculation. The key question is whether Tsolov’s strong F2 form and his work in first practice are enough to shift a choice that already includes two established options.

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