Audi Sees F1 Future for Freddie Slater as He Prepares for Formula 2

Audi has confirmed Freddie Slater’s move to Formula 2 for 2027, while Mattia Binotto has indicated that the team could give its junior driver Formula 1 duties sooner. Speaking during the Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend, Binotto identified Slater as a potential future Audi race driver but tied any such move to his continued development. Slater has a confirmed F2 seat with Invicta Racing; Audi has not announced an F1 practice appearance or a timetable for a race seat.

The 18-year-old Briton was the first driver signed to Audi’s Driver Development Programme ahead of the team’s 2026 F1 debut. He arrived with a rapid progression through the junior categories: a Ginetta Junior title in 2023, the UAE and Italian Formula 4 championships in 2024, and the Formula Regional European Championship in 2025. He also sampled Formula 3 before his first full season, reaching the podium in a Sakhir sprint race in 2025.

Racing for Trident this year, Slater remained in contention for the F3 championship through the final round. He arrived in Madrid leading the standings but finished the season second to Ugo Ugochukwu, with 145 points, one feature race victory, three pole positions and eight podiums. Binotto’s assessment focused less on the lost title than on Slater’s progress during the year. He said the driver had become more measured in his use of the tires, an area where Audi had seen room for improvement early in the season.

FORMULA 2 IS THE NEXT CONFIRMED STEP

Slater will join Invicta Racing for the 2027 F2 season and begin preparations with the team at the post-season test. Invicta won both the drivers’ and teams’ championships in 2024 and 2025, giving Slater a competitive setting in which to continue his development. Audi says he will remain part of its driver programme throughout the campaign, with support extending beyond his work in the car.

The move also gives Audi a full season at the level immediately below F1 to assess how Slater handles longer races, tire management and a new team. His F3 results established his pace, but Binotto’s comments suggest Audi will place considerable weight on how he applies what he learned this year. Allan McNish has worked closely with Slater through the development programme, according to Formula 1.

F1 TRACK TIME COULD COME FIRST

Binotto said F1 duties form part of Slater’s development plan and raised the possibility of them beginning before 2027. A rookie FP1 session would be one route. Audi has used Paul Aron for such sessions this season, and Formula 1 reports that the team has completed two of its four required rookie FP1 outings. Binotto’s remarks leave open the possibility that Slater could take one of the remaining sessions, but Audi has made no assignment.

A practice run and a race seat remain separate decisions. Audi currently fields Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg, and Binotto said Slater’s prospects for joining them depend on how strongly he continues to develop. For now, Audi has given its first academy signing a clear next assignment in F2 and has publicly identified F1 running as part of the longer-term plan. His 2027 campaign will be a more substantial test of when that plan could lead to a race drive.

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