Audi junior Slater set for F1 practice debut in Mexico
Audi development driver Freddie Slater will make his Formula 1 practice debut in Free Practice 1 at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix, with a second outing scheduled for Sao Paulo the following weekend.
Slater earns first F1 weekend miles
Audi development driver Freddie Slater will make his Formula 1 practice debut during Free Practice 1 at the 2026 Mexico City Grand Prix. [1] The 18-year-old Briton will also drive in FP1 at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix one week later. [2] Slater, the first recruit to Audi's driver development programme, finished runner-up in the 2026 FIA Formula 3 championship with Trident. [3] He is scheduled to step up to Formula 2 with Invicta Racing in 2027. These two FP1 sessions provide his initial on-track experience inside a grand prix weekend before that move. Audi racing director Allan McNish stated the outings represent the right time for Slater to progress and gain valuable race-weekend experience. [1] Slater described the opportunity as a childhood dream and a chance to continue learning on track.
Programme context and calendar note
Related reading
- [1]Freddie Slater to make F1 weekend debut with FP1 outings for Audi in Mexico City and Sao Paulo (formula1). Accessed 2026-10-26.
- [2]Freddie Slater to drive for Audi in first practice in Mexico City and Sao Paulo Grands Prix (bbc). Accessed 2026-10-26.
- [3]British teenager Slater to make F1 practice debut with Audi (reuters). Accessed 2026-10-26.