In Profile: Nikola Tsolov

FIA Formula 3’s newest race winner Nikola Tsolov is the latest driver on the 2024 grid to be put to the test with a few questions to get to know the Bulgarian a bit better.

The ART Grand Prix driver gives us more insight into what he gets up to away from the racing, his background in motorsport and an unsurprising favourite venue.

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RACING MEMORY?

“My first ever race in karting. I remember winning it. It was a strange race because I didn’t know I’d be doing a full Championship, I didn’t even know there was a full Championship. I just did that one race, won it and then just happy about it and thought that was it, my racing career.

“I was really young so I didn’t know I could do it as a job, but then my father said there were five more races, and I was like ‘Oh really?’ So I kept going and did the full season.”

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR RACING STYLE?

“I would say quite smooth with the steering wheel. I think clean on a push lap and then racing with other people, aggressive but fair. It depends though, especially with who you’re fighting with. How much point there is to risk though Qualifying too. In terms of driving style, you have to be a bit more aggressive in F3 because you don’t get much time to push to the limit so you don’t want to leave anything out there.”

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WHO IS YOUR RACING HERO?

“Ayrton Senna was my idol and an inspiration for me and someone I’ve always followed in Fernando Alonso. Obviously I am quite close to him with the management, so I can always get help if I need any.”

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST RACING ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR?

“Winning Spanish Formula 4 in 2022. I think that was probably the peak of my career so far. I did very well that year, that was also the year I got signed by Alpine, so it was a really good year for me overall.”

WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING A RACING DRIVER?

“I think it’s racing around such special tracks and on the same weekends as F1. It’s all really exciting. It’s a sport that we all love and everyone here does, there’s not really an explanation behind why we love it so much, but for all of us, any car and any place would be a dream for the rest of our lives.”

DO YOU HAVE ANY SECRET TALENTS OUTSIDE OF RACING?

“I got asked that question a while ago, I said I wasn’t sure then, but I couldn’t answer it.”

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HOW DO YOU RELAX AWAY FROM RACING?

“I won’t count sim racing because that’s still part of racing I’d say. But I enjoy spending time out in nature, going for walks, spending time with friends at home and just catching up. Spending time with family and friends is important, spending as much time as then as possible because it’s a really busy season. Also playing other sports, tennis, padel, bowling, anything really.”

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TRACK ON THE F3 CALENDAR?

“Monaco!”