Tsolov bolstered Racing Bulls 2027 plans after Imola test
NXTbets Pro | Published On: October 23, 2026
Tsolov test day
Nikola Tsolov put himself in the mix for Racing Bulls’ 2027 seats after completing a test day with the team at Imola. The 2027 lineup remained open, and Tsolov’s run in the car added another data point as Racing Bulls weighed its next steps. Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad were also in contention, leaving the team with a clear choice between continuity and a shift toward another young driver.
The test sharpened the discussion around the team’s future. Racing Bulls had not finalized either of its 2027 drivers, with the decision centered on whether to keep Lawson alongside Lindblad or make room for Tsolov. The team was working through its options as it evaluated the shape of the lineup.
Marko backing
Helmut Marko made the case plainly. He said Racing Bulls should choose Tsolov over Lawson for its 2027 driver lineup, and he tied that view to Red Bull’s long-running approach to developing talent. Marko said Red Bull “do not buy stars, they make stars,” a line that fit the organization’s preference for promoting from within rather than looking outside its system for proven names.
That philosophy framed how Red Bull judged the drivers in the conversation. Tsolov was pushing from Formula 2, where he sat second behind Rafael Camara. Lawson had already spent time back at Red Bull and remained part of the broader pipeline. Lindblad was in the frame as well. Marko’s stance pointed to a system that kept rewarding drivers who rose through the junior ranks and proved they could handle the next step. It also put pressure on Racing Bulls to decide whether it wanted to keep familiar pieces together or clear a path for another prospect. Marko’s comments emphasized development.
Lawson outlook
Lawson remained in the discussion. He had not secured his Formula 1 future beyond the end of 2026, but he remained one of the drivers Racing Bulls was considering for 2027. His recent results gave him some ground to stand on. Lawson was ninth in the Formula 1 drivers’ championship with 75 points after the Singapore Grand Prix, and he scored 14 points in a three-race stint back at Red Bull while Isack Hadjar recovered from injury.
Alan Permane had also made clear that Racing Bulls was not in a rush to decide its 2027 lineup. That left the door open for all the drivers under review and suggested the team wanted more time before committing. James Hinchcliffe took a different view of the lineup puzzle, saying continuity would be the best option for Racing Bulls in 2027 and that he would keep Lawson and Lindblad together. Those views showed the range of thinking around the team’s future, from Marko’s push for Tsolov to the argument for stability with Lawson and Lindblad. For now, Racing Bulls was still weighing its options, and the final shape of the 2027 lineup remained undecided.
