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Nikola Tsolov
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The Effect of Nikola Tsolov’s F2 Move

Theo Silk

Nikola Tsolov has been promoted to FIA Formula 2 with Campos Racing for the 2026 season. The 2025 Formula 3 runner-up will replace one of his Red Bull Academy compatriots, Arvid Lindblad or Josep Maria “Pepe” Martí. His teammate for next season is still undetermined, but it looks like the first domino has fallen in the 2026 Formula 2 driver market.

What to Expect From Nikola Tsolov

The Bulgarian driver trailed F3 champion Rafael Câmara by 42 points in the standings, winning one Feature race in Monaco and a Sprint in Bahrain.

After his feature race victory in Monte Carlo, the 18-year-old Bulgarian became the first driver to win five times in FIA Formula 3.

This year was his third in the series, after joining with ART Grand Prix in 2023 before switching to Campos Racing for 2025.

From finishing 22nd in the championship on his debut season, then winning three races in his second season – two Sprints and one Feature – finishing 11th, to almost doubling his points tally from 2024 this year. The youngster has clearly gone from strength to strength.

Tsolov’s promotion to Formula 2 has solidified his collaboration with Campos, as the Spanish team has acquired another Red Bull Junior.

“I am extremely happy to take the next step in my career and move up to FIA Formula 2 with Campos Racing once again.”

“Together we have worked very hard and achieved success in both F4 Spain and FIA Formula 3, which gives me great confidence heading into next season. This is another step closer to my dream, and I will be pushing harder than ever to deliver strong results.” – Nikola Tsolov

In 2022 Tsolov won Spanish Formula 4 for Campos, bursting onto the stage single-seater racing, winning 13 times.

His natural ability in the cockpit could be beneficial when he lines up in Melbourne for the start of the 2026 F2 World Championship.

“We are extremely proud to continue working with Nikola for another year. He is very much one of our own, having taken his very first steps in single-seaters with Campos Racing.” – Campos Racing Team Principal Adrián Campos Jr

Nikola Tsolov during round 10 of the FIA Formula 3 Championship at Autodromo di Monza in Italy on September 04-07, 2025. // Credit: Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool

Who Will Tsolov Replace at Campos?

One driver will have to depart Campos Racing in 2026 to free up space for the incoming Red Bull Junior.

Lindblad and Martí will head into the final three races of the season in Baku, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, with only 11 points separating them.

This year, the British-Swede won the Jeddah sprint, followed by a feature race win in Barcelona, compared to his Spanish teammate, who has won three sprints in Sakhir, Spielberg and Budapest.

Depending on Red Bull and Racing Bulls’ team configuration for 2026, it is more likely that Lindblad will make the step up.

This is Martí’s second year in F2 with Campos, a team he has been with since Spanish Formula 4 in 2021. Unlike Lindblad, he does not have a super licence and therefore cannot compete in an FP session in F1.

This year has been Lindblad’s first F2 season and his first with Campos, as he made a name for himself on the grid amongst seasoned competitors.

Lindblad’s Super Licence Advantage Over Martí

In order for a driver to secure a super licence to progress to Formula 1, they must meet certain criteria. They must hold a FIA International Grade A licence, needed to compete in Formula 2, and a valid driving licence while being over the age of 18.

While completing at least 80% of certified single-seater championships over a two-year period, drivers must have accumulated the required 40 super licence points over three years.

In Formula 2, if a driver finishes first, second or third, they recieve 40 points, which is the number required to be eligible for a super licence.

Red Bull requested and secured Arvid Lindblad’s super licence in June 2025, just before he turned 18 — a move that signals the Austrian team may be preparing him for a Formula 1 seat.

Lindblad reached the requirement after he won Formula Regional Oceania this year, finished fourth in F3 in 2024 , and finihsed third in the 2023 Italian Formula 4 Championship.

Conventionally, a driver would have to be 18 years old to obtain a super licence, but adjustments made to the FIA International Sporting Code in 2024 granted the then 17-year-old an exception.

This adjustment was made for drivers under the age of 18 who have “demonstrated outstanding ability and maturity in single-seater formula car”.

These rule changes allowed Andrea Kimi Antonelli to get his super licence before he turned 18, and compete in a short and dramatic Free Practice 1 of his home race at Monza in August 2024.

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Martí’s Dilemma

Pepe Martí, on the other hand, has not accumulated the required number of super licence points to make a Formula 1 appearance.

He currently stands on 29 points from his time in the 2022 Formula Regional Asian Championship, 2023 Formula Regional Middle East and a fifth-place finish two years ago in F3.

The 20-year-old Spaniard has since not acquired any additional super licence points in F2. This could change by the end of this season, as he currently sits sixth in the standings.

However, he recently showed little optimism when asked about his future by the Spanish press in Monza:

“Plan A had always been F1. Right now, it’s clear that’s no longer Plan A — I won’t lie. Obviously, you always think ‘maybe if…’, and of course, F1 remains my main goal, like it is for any driver in single-seaters,” – Pepe Martí

Pepe Marti during round 11 of the FIA Formula 2 Championship at Autodromo di Monza in Italy on September 04-07, 2025. // Credit: Dutch Photo Agency / Red Bull Content Pool.

A Fight to the End

Lindblad has followed in Antonelli’s footsteps, making his Formula 1 debut in Silverstone this year with Red Bull during FP1, finishing the session in 14th.

“I am extremely grateful to everyone at Red Bull for the opportunity. Amazing to get my first official F1 session.”

“I think most people, basically everyone, don’t get the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car, so just to get that opportunity, I am extremely grateful for. And I am focused on working hard and doing a good job in F2 to be a full-time driver soon.” – Arvid Lindblad

The young Red Bull prospect is ticking all the right boxes to step into the spotlight of Formula 1, despite trailing Pepe Martí in the standings in seventh.

With only three races left on the calendar, there is more than enough time for the British-Swede to embed his name in Formula 2 history.

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Formula 2 action returns from 19–21 September at the Baku City Circuit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Feature Image Credit: Red Bull Content Pool

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