Binotto eyes Slater for Audi F1 seat 'even earlier' than 2027

Audi CEO Mattia Binotto has dropped his strongest hint yet that teenage protégé Freddie Slater is on a fast track to Formula 1, revealing in Azerbaijan that he wants the 18-year-old in an F1 seat “in the near future”.

Slater joined Audi's Driver Development Programme earlier this year and repaid the team's faith with a standout FIA Formula 3 campaign, finishing runner-up to champion Ugo Ugochukwu after leading the standings heading into the season-ending round in Madrid.

Much of that progress has come under the wing of Audi Racing Director Allan McNish, formerly tasked with running the squad's junior academy. With his F3 campaign complete, Slater is now set to graduate into F2 next season having signed with Invicta Racing.

Asked whether Slater would take on more F1 duties in 2027, Binotto was swift to reply: “Or maybe even earlier.”

“So, certainly Freddie is part of our driver development programme. High potential, he's doing well. Just finished second in the championship,” Binotto said.

“He was leading the championship before the last weekend in Madrid. Now finishing second. I think we discussed that with him. It can be as well a great lesson learned. Sometimes it's not that, and that will be forgotten very soon.

“More important what he will deliver in the future. F1 duties yes, because that's part of the development plan.”

Under current regulations, teams without a full-time rookie in their line-up are required to run young drivers in four Free Practice 1 sessions across the season. Audi have so far fulfilled only two of their four FP1 slots, with Estonian Paul Aron — shared with Alpine — having shouldered those duties so far. That leaves room for Slater to step into the cockpit of the R26 sooner rather than later.

Beyond that, Binotto says the exact timing will depend on how the youngster develops — and on how current Audi incumbents Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg fare next season. While the young Brazilian is regarded as very much the team's future, Hulkenberg will turn 40 midway through the season, potentially opening a window for the academy graduate.

“F1 seat in the future, that will depend on how strong [Slater] will continue developing. But when you've got a driver in your academy, somehow the plans are for him, sooner or later, to be in your F1 seat,” Binotto explained.

“So again, happy with him, the way he has progressed. If you look at his F3 season since the start, where maybe he was abusing a bit too much on the tyres, he has become more balanced, managing better, getting experience and finishing very strong this season.”

Binotto's comments underline Audi's long-term vision for Slater as the squad builds toward its full factory F1 project, with the teenager now firmly established as one of the most closely watched young drivers on the road to the top flight.