Racing Bulls' Mexico FP1 history hints at what Tsolov outing could mean for Lawson
Photo: Race Pictures
Ben Hunt is an award-winning motorsport journalist with over two decades of experience in Formula 1 and international media. As a former editor-in-chief and bestselling author, he delivers in-depth analysis and strategic insight from the highest level of the sport.
Nikola Tsolov will drive Liam Lawson's VCARB 03 in Friday's opening practice session in Mexico City, and Racing Bulls have a history at this venue. The last two Red Bull juniors the Faenza team put in a car for Mexico FP1 were Lawson in 2022 and Isack Hadjar in 2023, and both went on to race for the team.
Racing Bulls have still not announced their 2027 line-up, and Lawson, Arvid Lindblad and Tsolov are all understood to be in contention. Team principal Alan Permane has described the outing as part of Tsolov's development. The NZ Herald, however, pointed out that Mexico has become a favourite place for the team to give young drivers a chance in the car.
Lawson and Hadjar both used Mexico as a stepping stone
Lawson's Mexico run in 2022 was his second FP1 outing of that season, after his debut in Pierre Gasly's car at Spa. At the time he was the reserve driver for both Red Bull and AlphaTauri. He took over Yuki Tsunoda's car at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez and finished the session 16th.
That run did not lead straight to a seat. AlphaTauri had already confirmed their drivers for 2023, so Lawson's first races came as a substitute that year, and he only became a full-time race driver late in 2024.
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Hadjar's case looked even less like an audition. He also replaced Tsunoda in 2023, at a point when he was 14th in Formula 2. Speaking to The Race, he said he had done "not even a show run, zero mileage" in an F1 car before that session. He finished 17th after 25 laps, and Red Bull then gave him an FP1 run in Abu Dhabi. He was promoted to a race seat for 2025.
Why Tsolov's run is a different kind of test
Nikola Tsolov experienced the test day of his dreams at Imola - Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
The precedent only goes so far. Neither Lawson nor Hadjar took the car of a driver they were directly fighting for a seat. Tsolov is. He also arrives in a much stronger position than Hadjar did, sitting second in the Formula 2 standings. The NZ Herald also noted that the team picked Tsolov ahead of reserve driver Ayumu Iwasa, who drove Lawson's car in FP1 at this year's Austrian Grand Prix.
There is still a strong case for reading it as a formality. Tsolov's run completes Racing Bulls' rookie requirement, and the NZ Herald itself warned that an FP1 appearance does not guarantee promotion. In the team statement, Permane kept to the development line:
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It reflects our commitment to nurturing emerging talent and giving our junior drivers valuable track time and the support they need to learn and develop.- Alan Permane, Racing Bulls team principal
The timeline is where the comparison really bites. Lawson waited about two years for a full-time drive after his Mexico run, and Hadjar waited a little over a year. Tsolov's seat would start next season. Meanwhile, Lawson has scored points in all but five races this year, and the man who gets his car on Friday could be the one who replaces him.
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