Why Red Bull didn’t choose this talent: The reason behind Iwasa’s F1 opportunity

For years, the Red Bull Junior Team was the pinnacle for young, ambitious drivers. Through the Austrians, the chance of progressing to Formula 1 was often high, or at least taking part in a free practice session in the top class. There was always someone eager to seize that one golden opportunity.

But under the rookie rule in F1, it wasn’t a future talent in Hadjar’s car during the first free practice session on Friday in Barcelona, it was reserve driver Iwasa who got the chance. Red Bull does not see the Japanese driver (now 24 years old) as a future Formula 1 driver, unlike Tsolov.

The Bulgarian has started strongly in his first full season in Formula 2, currently sitting second in the championship standings. The nineteen-year-old has the speed and the aura of a true Red Bull driver. Yet Red Bull did not put him in as Hadjar’s temporary replacement, for a fairly simple reason.

To take part in a free practice session in Formula 1, holding a super licence is not necessary. However, it is mandatory to have completed a so-called Test of Previous Car (TPC) with an F1 car that is at least two years old. In that test, 300 kilometers must be driven without causing damage. Tsolov has (so far) not conducted such a test with Red Bull or Racing Bulls.

For the time being, no TPC is planned for Tsolov, but the Bulgarian is not overly concerned about that. Answering a question from GPblog, he said: “I think I just need to keep doing the same stuff I've been doing since the beginning of the year. Obviously, I'm quite happy with Red Bull and they're quite happy with me. I haven't got the opportunity yet just because I cannot [drive in FP1 yet].

“I don't have the super license points or the test that I need to do in Formula 1 car before I do FP1. Also, it's a little bit distracting to do an FP1 just before [Formula 2] qualifying. I think it makes your life a little bit more difficult and Red Bull are understanding that quite well. So I’m just mainly focused on F2 right now,” the Bulgarian concluded.