Story
The Bulgarian Lion
Nikola Tsolov — the Bulgarian Lion — was born in Sofia on 21 December 2006. At nineteen, he is the most successful single-seater driver Bulgaria has ever produced: the first Bulgarian to win a Formula 2 race, an all-time record holder in FIA Formula 3, and the leader of the 2026 F2 championship in his rookie season.
It started on the outskirts of Sofia, when his parents signed a small boy up for a driving course. What followed has been a straight line pointed at Formula 1.
The road so far
- 2016
The first title
Bulgarian Kart Champion in the Mini category at just nine years old — a title he defended the following year before taking his racing international.
- 2020
The Alonso path
Two seasons with DPK FA Alonso Kart on the international stage — the same chassis on which Lando Norris, Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat built their early careers.
- 2022
Single-seater arrival
Spanish F4 Champion at fifteen: 13 wins from 21 races, 18 podiums and 15 pole positions — backed by the Alpine Academy and A14 Management, co-founded by two-time world champion Fernando Alonso.
- 2023
FIA Formula 3
A rookie season in the FIA F3 Championship, becoming the third-youngest driver ever to score points in the category.
- 2024
Front-runner
Three dominant F3 victories — one of only two drivers to win three or more races that season.
- 2025
Vice-Champion, record holder
Back with Campos Racing and now in Red Bull Junior Team colours: F3 Vice-Champion, the driving force behind Campos' Teams' Championship, and an all-time record five career F3 wins.
- 2026
History, live
The first Bulgarian ever to win a Formula 2 race — then five more. Six wins in seven rounds, the first driver in F2 history to win three consecutive races, and the championship lead. As a rookie.
Right now
Leading the 2026 FIA Formula 2 Championship as a rookie, with the superlicence within reach. The target: the Formula 1 grid in 2027.