Red Bull Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov nearly crashed Max Verstappen's Mercedes-AMG GT3 EVO during a donut attempt at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on Friday, July 10, 2026. The incident, captured on the official YouTube livestream, saw Tsolov misjudge his first spin, slamming on the brakes to avoid hitting a hay bale and coming to a stop on the grass. Marshals had to push the car back onto the tarmac before Tsolov could continue his hill climb.
Tsolov's Gaffe at Goodwood
The Red Bull-branded GT3 car, which Verstappen and his teammates drove in the 24 Hours of the Nurburgring in May, was one of many racing machines showcased at the West Sussex circuit. Verstappen was not present; instead, Tsolov, 20, was behind the wheel. The Bulgarian driver currently leads the F2 championship after dominating the British Grand Prix, winning both F2 races at Silverstone last weekend.
During his hill run, Tsolov stopped to perform donuts for the crowd but misjudged his first attempt. The lead commentator on the livestream joked, "And he's stopped so that the fans can have a look! Nothing untoward, that will be reversed out... There he goes, no damage done." He added, "The driver on board is not Max Verstappen, by the way, it's Nikola Tsolov, so Max is in the clear for that one. But it wasn't much of a slip-up, he was just trying to put on a show and it just went slightly loose on him."
Red Bull's Driver Selection Headache
Tsolov's strong 2026 season has created a selection dilemma for Red Bull ahead of 2027. If Verstappen stays, the team has no room in either Red Bull Racing or Racing Bulls to promote Tsolov without dropping another performing driver. Isack Hadjar has made a strong start alongside Verstappen, while Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad are on impressive scoring streaks for Racing Bulls.
Adrian Campos, boss of Tsolov's Campos Racing team in F2, praised the driver: "He's the one making the difference. We are giving him a good car, but he's the one making the difference. He does everything so easily, and that is surprising everyone. And to be honest, I really hope that he gets a chance in F1. He really deserves it."
