The British driver Freddie Slater, who finished second in the FIA Formula 3 this season, will have his first taste of a Formula 1 car thanks to Audi. Slater will participate in the Free Practice 1 sessions during the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix.
Audi integrated its structure into the Sauber F1 Team before the start of the 2026 season and launched a new driver academy that has featured Slater as a prominent figure. The driver, who was previously champion in both the Italian F4 and the European Regional Formula, has demonstrated his talent and managed to be the best rookie in the F3 standings.
After his participation in F3, Slater will make the jump to Formula 2 with the Invicta team. Before doing so, he will participate in the last two mandatory outings of a rookie driver for Audi, replacing drivers such as Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
Slater expressed his excitement: ‘Driving a Formula 1 car during a Grand Prix weekend is an incredible moment for me, a dream I have chased since I was young. This experience will allow me to continue learning about the circuit.’
Audi’s competition director, Allan McNish, stated that Slater has shown remarkable progress and that his performances in Mexico and Brazil will be crucial for his training before his move to F2 next season.
Colton Herta also in action
Additionally, Colton Herta, Cadillac’s development driver, will participate in the United States Grand Prix, driving Sergio Pérez‘s car. This will be Herta’s fourth FP1 of the year. He commented that this opportunity in Austin is special for him, as he won his first IndyCar race here in 2019.
The team director, Marcin Budkowski, added that Herta’s feedback will be valuable for adjusting the car configurations, as they prepare small improvements for the team.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
