Audi junior driver Freddie Slater is set to make his first appearance behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car, with two Free Practice 1 sessions scheduled for the Mexico City and Sao Paulo grands prix.
Audi took control of the Sauber team ahead of its debut F1 campaign in 2026 and simultaneously launched a new driver development programme, one that has centred heavily around Slater's progress. The 18-year-old Briton previously claimed titles in Italian F4 and Formula Regional European competition before stepping up to Formula 3, where he finished runner-up to Ugo Ugochukwu this season and was the series' top-placed rookie.
Slater will move into Formula 2 next year with Invicta, joining a line of former Trident F3 drivers who have made the same step, including Gabriel Bortoleto, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara. His two FP1 outings will satisfy Audi's obligations under F1's young-driver rules, with Slater replacing Nico Hulkenberg in Mexico and Bortoleto in Brazil. Alpine reserve Paul Aron had already completed two similar sessions for Audi earlier in the season, meaning Slater's appearances will fulfil the team's final mandatory rookie requirements for the year.
"Getting behind the wheel of a Formula 1 car at a grand prix weekend is a big moment for me and something I've been dreaming of since I was a kid," Slater said, adding that the sessions would offer further valuable experience ahead of his F2 move. He thanked the Audi Driver Development Programme for the opportunities it has given him and said his focus would be on supporting the team while learning as much as possible.
Audi racing director Allan McNish said Slater has shown strong progress both on and off track in recent years, calling this the right moment for him to step up. He added that the Mexico and Brazil outings would give Slater valuable race-weekend experience in the R26 before his F2 debut next season.
Separately, Cadillac's Colton Herta will drive Sergio Perez's car during FP1 at this weekend's United States Grand Prix in Austin, his fourth such session this year after previous runs in Barcelona, Budapest and Monza, the last of which was cut short by a suspected hydraulic problem. Herta said driving at COTA, where he won his first IndyCar race in 2019, would feel like "coming full circle." Team principal Marcin Budkowski said Cadillac would also test small floor and cooling upgrades during the session, with Herta's local knowledge expected to help establish a strong baseline for the weekend.
Source: Autosport
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