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Permane Names Nikola Tsolov 'Next in Line' for Racing Bulls F1 Seat

The team boss’s comments put Tsolov at the front of Red Bull’s succession list while making any promotion conditional on licence rules, a senior‑team vacancy, and post‑summer‑break decisions.

Overview

  • Permane, speaking at Spa on Saturday, July 18, said Tsolov is “next in line” for a seat at Racing Bulls and that the driver is firmly on the team’s radar.
  • Tsolov leads the FIA Formula 2 championship after a run of feature‑race wins that included victory at Silverstone, strengthening his case for promotion.
  • Permane stressed that no promotion is decided or timed and that the team will only act “if and when” a formal opportunity appears.
  • Practical limits that could delay a move include FIA super‑licence eligibility and the summer break, while Racing Bulls’ own desire to keep Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad complicates timing.
  • A call up could depend on a senior‑team vacancy, a decision on Max Verstappen’s future, and post‑break evaluations, making Tsolov the leading candidate but not a guaranteed 2027 F1 starter.