F1: Freddie Slater makes Audi practice debut in Mexico

Audi is giving Freddie Slater his Formula 1 debut: the 18-year-old Briton will drive the Audi R26 in first practice (FP1) at the Mexico City Grand Prix, then again at the São Paulo Grand Prix. The announcement was made on 22 October 2026.

Two FP1 sessions in the Audi R26

• Mexico City: the race weekend runs from 30 October to 1 November, according to the calendar published by Motorsport Week.
• São Paulo: 6 to 8 November.
• Slater was the first driver Audi signed into its development programme, in early 2026, making him the marque's first junior driver.
• According to Motorsport.com, he takes the seat from Nico Hülkenberg, then from Gabriel Bortoleto, for the last two sessions the team must give to young drivers this season.

A strong record already

Slater is an Italian F4 champion and a Formula Regional European Championship champion. In 2026 he finished F3 runner-up with Trident, behind Ugo Ugochukwu, as the best-placed rookie in the championship, with one feature race win. Next season he steps up to F2 with Invicta Racing.

The Audi context

Audi took over the Sauber team ahead of the 2026 season and set up a young driver academy. Alpine junior Paul Aron has already been loaned to Audi twice this year for practice sessions.

The week's other young drivers

• McLaren will run F2 driver Leonardo Fornaroli in Mexico City and São Paulo.
• At Cadillac, Colton Herta will drive Sergio Pérez's car in FP1 at the United States Grand Prix in Austin. It will be his fourth session of the season, after Barcelona, Budapest and Monza, where the session was cut short by a suspected hydraulic problem. Herta still targets F1 in 2028, but his 2027 programme remains uncertain.

Key takeaways

• Two sessions, two Grands Prix: Mexico City, then São Paulo.
• An F1 first for Audi's first junior driver.
• A step before F2 in 2027.