Freddie Slater, 18, will make his Audi F1 practice debut on Oct. 30 at the Mexico City Grand Prix, driving the car in first practice before a second outing a week later at the São Paulo Grand Prix. The British teenager was the first driver signed to Audi’s driver development programme after the manufacturer’s entry into Formula 1 this season.
The two sessions give Slater his first laps in a grand prix weekend car, a milestone he has been building toward since joining Audi’s young driver pipeline. Audi announced the plan as part of its broader effort to give development drivers real race-weekend experience ahead of bigger steps in their careers.
The Main Development
Slater will take the wheel for Audi in opening practice at Mexico City on Oct. 30, then do the same in São Paulo the following week. Both sessions mark his first appearances in an F1 car during an actual grand prix weekend rather than a test.
Allan McNish, Audi’s racing director and head of the driver development programme, said the timing reflects Slater’s progress away from the track as much as on it. “We have seen Freddie making great progress throughout recent years, both on and off the track,” McNish said. “It is the right time for Freddie to step up. These appearances in Mexico and Brazil will give him valuable experience of a Formula 1 race weekend, and another chance to continue his development before he steps up to Formula 2 next season.”
Slater described the moment in personal terms. “Getting behind the wheel of an F1 car at a grand prix weekend is a big moment for me and something I’ve been dreaming of since I was a kid,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot this year, and these free practice outings will be another opportunity to keep gaining on-track experience.”
What It Means For Slater’s Development
The Mexico City and São Paulo sessions function as a bridge for Slater between junior single-seater racing and a full F2 campaign. Running first practice at an actual grand prix exposes him to the procedures, tire management and traffic conditions of an F1 weekend that simulator work and junior series cannot replicate.
McNish framed the appearances explicitly as preparation rather than an audition for a race seat this season, calling them a chance to keep developing before Slater’s move to F2.
Season Context
Slater finished second on his debut season in the Formula 3 championship, a result that helped put him on Audi’s radar as the manufacturer built out its driver pipeline following its arrival in F1. He is set to move up to Formula 2 in 2027 with the Invicta team, making the two practice outings his last scheduled F1 track time before that step.
What’s Next
Slater’s first session comes in first practice at the Mexico City Grand Prix on Oct. 30. His second and, for now, final practice appearance with Audi follows a week later at the São Paulo Grand Prix before he turns his attention to preparing for his Formula 2 debut season with Invicta in 2027.
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