Racing Bulls Deny Tsolov Is Guaranteed 2027 F1 Seat Amid Lawson Exit Rumors

Racing Bulls CEO Peter Bayer has firmly denied rumors that Red Bull junior Nikola Tsolov is guaranteed a seat with the team next season, pushing back against speculation that the F2 championship leader could replace Liam Lawson for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign.

Why it matters:

The driver market is beginning to heat up as teams evaluate their options for 2027. Tsolov has emerged as one of the most promising prospects in the junior ranks, and his potential promotion would have significant implications for Lawson, who has worked to establish himself as a regular points-scorer despite a stop-start F1 journey. Bayer's comments suggest Racing Bulls remains committed to its current lineup for now.

The details:

• Tsolov leads the F2 championship with six victories across seven race weekends, making him a natural candidate for F1 promotion within the Red Bull ecosystem.
• Despite his success, the 19-year-old currently lacks the necessary super licence points to compete in Formula 1.
• Bayer confirmed the team is planning TPC (Testing of Previous Cars) sessions for Tsolov in the autumn to help him accumulate the required kilometres and gain access to Friday practice sessions.
• To date, Tsolov's only F1 running has come during a demonstration drive in the Red Bull RB7 in Sofia.
• Although Lawson leads teammate Arvid Lindblad 39 points to 20 in the Drivers' standings, persistent rumors have identified the New Zealander as the driver most at risk.
• Bayer rejected that narrative, insisting both Lawson and Lindblad are doing a "brilliant job" and that Tsolov's promotion is "not even on the cards at the moment."

What's next:

Lawson brushed off the speculation when asked at Silverstone, saying his attention is fixed on the remainder of the 2026 season rather than the 2027 driver market. For Tsolov, the priority is securing the remaining super licence requirements through the planned test programme. If he continues his dominant F2 run and completes the necessary mileage, the conversation around a 2027 seat is likely to resurface later in the year.