David Coulthard expects ‘incoming issue’ for Red Bull bosses over ‘brilliant’ driver’s future

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Red Bull have always had a knack for churning out some of the best young talent in F1, with David Coulthard under the impression that their latest highly ambitious junior driver is on course to provide an ‘incoming issue’ for the team’s top brass.

Arvid Lindblad is just the latest Red Bull junior driver to prove his worth in the pinnacle of single-seater motor racing, with the young Briton following in the footsteps of predecessor Isack Hadjar as he continues to impress in his rookie F1 campaign.

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On top of that, Red Bull already have a suitable candidate to follow in Lindblad’s footsteps next year in Formula 2 driver Nikola Tsolov. The Bulgarian currently leads the F2 standings, and David Coulthard is a keen admirer of his talents.

• READ MORE: Who is Nikola Tsolov? Everything to know about the Red Bull junior linked with Racing Bulls F1 seat

David Coulthard expects an ‘incoming issue’ for Red Bull bosses over Nikola Tsolov’s future

In an appearance on the Up To Speed podcast, Coulthard was asked for his thoughts on Racing Bulls’ performance during the Belgian Grand Prix, in which Lindblad continued the Italian constructor’s fine form of securing points at all of the last six race weekends.

“Very strong performance, good battling wheel-to-wheel between the two teammates,” the 13-time F1 Grand Prix winner said. “It may have got a bit tense between them at a certain moment, but their job within Racing Bulls is to shine bright, because RB are doing a great job.

“It’s exactly the sort of job that would be expected of them by the parent company. They’re independently fast, and they’re developing their young drivers to put them in that sort of spotlight of we could be in the main team in the future.”

However, Coulthard also sees a headache brewing for the team’s top brass, due to the calibre of performances that Tsolov is clocking in during the 2026 F2 campaign.

“It will potentially lead to a problem, of course, because you’ve got Tsolov in Formula 2 doing a brilliant job; he’s leading that championship and looking like he absolutely deserves a shot at Formula 1,” he continued.

“I’ve got a soft spot for just his approach to racing; he’s just so raw, and he’s having a go, which are all of the things you like to see in a young racer. So, there might be an incoming issue for RB or for Red Bull as a whole.”

• READ MORE: Racing Bulls boss issues ‘honest’ verdict on claims Liam Lawson is at risk to Nikola Tsolov

Racing Bulls chief says Nikola Tsolov is ‘next in line’ for an F1 seat

During the most recent race weekend at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane was once again asked about the young Bulgarian’s talents and whether or not they have plans to insert him at the F1 team next year.

“He’s doing incredibly well,” the Briton told journalists during the team principals’ press conference on Friday morning. “He’s now leading the championship after his great weekend at Silverstone.

“To say he’s on the radar would be a little bit of an understatement. He’s next in line, I think, is fair to say.When that will be, I don’t know, honestly.

“It’s not an untruth to say we’re not thinking about it at the moment. He’s there, he’s doing his job, we’re doing our job, and we’ll make a call if and when he comes up to Racing Bulls later this year.”