Freddie Slater reflects on first Audi F1 practice outings after mechanical setbacks

Freddie Slater has described his first official Formula 1 outings with Audi after taking part in free practice at the Mexican and Sao Paulo Grands Prix. The 18-year-old British driver told the BBC that the opportunity arrived earlier than he had expected, although mechanical problems cut short his running on both occasions.

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The sessions gave Slater experience of Formula 1 machinery following a season in which he finished runner-up in the Formula 3 Championship. Speaking about Mexico, he described reaching 350kph on the approach to the first corner and the physical forces involved in driving the car. Despite the interruptions, he said completing those laps fulfilled a long-held ambition.

Audi's involvement has been central to that progression. Slater became the first driver signed to the team's driver development programme, according to the BBC, and credited the support of team principal Mattia Binotto and racing director Allan McNish. He also highlighted the scale of an F1 operation, noting how many people work behind the scenes to put a car on track.

His route to the practice appearances has moved quickly through the junior categories. Slater said he was still competing in karting in 2023 before winning the Formula Regional Championship last year and moving into Formula 3 this season. That championship races alongside Formula 1 at the same circuits, providing an environment in which young drivers can attract the attention of teams further up the ladder.

Slater grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon and attended school in Bromsgrove, balancing his education with travel for racing. He told the BBC that school support helped him manage prolonged absences. Motorsport also runs through his family: his father raced, and his two brothers are developing their own careers, with the youngest having started karting at the age of 10.

His next step is a Formula 2 season with Invicta Racing. Slater said his aims include competing for a championship while continuing to improve as a driver, and stressed the testing and training demands away from race weekends. The BBC reported that he is not scheduled to return to the track until next year, with simulator work and daily gym sessions continuing in the meantime.