That championship lead is gone, but Nikola Tsolov is far from done. The Campos Racing driver surrendered the top spot in the Drivers' Championship during the weekend in Baku, yet he is entirely convinced this championship has another twist waiting in the wings.
It is easy to see why he keeps that belief. Earlier in the campaign, the Bulgarian put together a devastating middle phase that featured three consecutive victories, bringing his total win tally to six and keeping him at the front of the field for much of the season. Even though rival Rafael Câmara took over the points lead at the end of Round 12, Tsolov insists his mindset hasn't shifted toward chasing others.
I think that middle part of the season has really helped me have an easier time with the last couple of rounds and still come out close to the lead even after these things that have happened,
"I will focus on myself and on bouncing back from a couple of weekends that I've had some mistakes in," he explained, noting that the tough moments have provided valuable lessons. The Red Bull Junior Team driver admitted to experiencing plenty of ups and downs, acknowledging that the real test lies in how a driver stands back up.
That stellar run through the middle third of the year built a valuable cushion for both him and Campos, softening the blow of recent difficult results and keeping them in serious contention. His fightback on Sunday in Baku proved his competitive spirit remains fully intact as the series heads into the final two rounds of the season in Lusail and Yas Marina. Tsolov expects the momentum to swing back if the hard work continues.
"I think that middle part of the season has really helped me have an easier time with the last couple of rounds and still come out close to the lead even after these things that have happened," he said. While acknowledging the lost advantage, he added, "we've done it before, I'm sure we can do it again now."
For Tsolov, staying calm and embracing the difficult days is simply part of the journey. He pointed to tough weekends earlier in the year in Canada and Miami where he and the team managed to claw back the margin. With just two stops remaining in the 2026 title fight, the target is simple: minimise the mistakes, maximize the remaining opportunities, and let the process work.
