Red Bull confirm third driver for 2027 after Liam Lawson-Arvid Lindblad decision

Red Bull and Racing Bulls have confirmed F2 title-chaser Nikola Tsolov as its third driver for the 2027 season.

Tsolov will be on hand at every grand prix weekend next year while continuing to build toward a likely race seat with the team in 2028.

The announcement comes after the Faenza-based squad confirmed that Lawson and Arvid Lindblad will keep their race seats for next year, leaving no immediate cockpit available for the Red Bull junior.

Instead, Tsolov will be given a heavy Testing of Previous Cars programme, running older-specification machinery to accumulate mileage.

Tsolov was given his first taste of grand prix machinery this year with a TPC run-out at Imola followed by a first practice outing in Mexico.

That involvement will expand significantly in 2027, with the 19-year-old set to take multiple FP1 sessions across the year under the FIA's rule requiring teams to field young drivers who have not started more than two grands prix.

Red Bull confirmed that, "In his new role, Nikola will undertake an extensive development programme, combining simulator and development work with valuable track experience through free practice sessions, Testing of Previous Cars (TPC), selected test sessions and tyre testing.

"Alongside his responsibilities as a reserve driver, the programme is designed to ensure he is fully prepared to race in F1 at the highest level."

Tsolov, who is managed by Fernando Alonso's A14 Management agency, rose through Spanish F4 with Campos Racing before progressing through F3 and into F2. He left the Alpine Academy in late 2024 before being picked up by the Red Bull junior programme ahead of the 2025 season.

With no race seat opening up for next year, Red Bull had been weighing alternative options to keep Tsolov active. Speculation indicated a switch to DTM had been considered. That route has been shelved in favour of the expanded Racing Bulls role.

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