Tsolov explains leg numbness in Mexico City FP1 debut

Nikola Tsolov revealed he briefly lost feeling in his legs during his first F1 practice outing at the Mexico City Grand Prix, blaming a tight seat that restricted blood flow in his right leg. He returned to the garage, stood up in the cockpit and shook the leg out before sensation returned after two or three minutes.

Why it matters:

Tsolov was auditioning for a full-time Racing Bulls seat next season. Cockpit comfort is a real performance and safety issue—it can affect throttle application and braking—so the team now has a concrete item to address if it is seriously evaluating him.

The details:

• Tsolov, 19, stood in for Liam Lawson and completed 28 laps, ending just over a tenth behind rookie team-mate Arvid Lindblad.
• He reported “losing circulation” in his right leg and was seen standing in the cockpit after returning to the garage.
• The problem has happened before in F2. Under full throttle, he moved up into the seat and compressed the leg, causing pins and needles before it went numb.
• “I couldn’t feel them. It was a dead leg,” he said, adding he had to jump out and shake it before feeling came back.
• Preparation was limited: one TPC day with last year’s car at Imola in August and about a day and a half of simulator running in Faenza. He still felt calm and ready.
• He remains in the F2 title fight, seven points behind Rafael Camara with two rounds left, while Racing Bulls weigh him against Lawson and Lindblad.

What's next:

The fix should be a seat fit that avoids pressure on his right leg, but it matters for Tsolov’s pitch. With his F2 title hopes alive and a Racing Bulls decision looming, his FP1 pace and physical feedback will both count.