Freddie Slater joins Audi as F1 reserve
18-year-old Briton Freddie Slater earned his super licence after finishing runner-up in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship. He is now eligible to step in for Audi drivers Nico Hulkenberg or Gabriel Bortoleto in an emergency.
Slater gains super licence eligibility
Freddie Slater, the 18-year-old British driver, secured enough points for an FIA super licence by finishing second in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 Championship.[1]
He recently turned 18, meeting the age requirement as well.[1]
Audi gains emergency option
Audi now has an in-house driver eligible to replace Nico Hulkenberg or Gabriel Bortoleto during a Grand Prix weekend if needed.[1]
Until this development, the team lacked a super-licence holder capable of stepping in at short notice.[1]
Slater's progression through karting, Formula 4 titles in the UAE and Italy, and the Formula Regional European Championship led to his signing as the first member of Audi's Driver Development Programme earlier in 2026.[2]
Path ahead
Slater will contest the 2027 FIA Formula 2 Championship with Invicta Racing while continuing under Audi support.[2]
Related reading
- [1]Audi finally has a new F1 reserve driver in Freddie Slater (gpblog). Accessed 2026-09-20.
- [2]Audi junior and F3 runner-up Freddie Slater to race in F2 in 2027 (formula1). Accessed 2026-09-20.