Binotto wants Slater in an F1 seat in the near future

Audi CEO Mattia Binotto has made no secret of his plans for Freddie Slater, stating in Azerbaijan that he wants the youngster “into an F1 seat” in the near future.

Slater signed with Audi as part of their Driver Development Programme earlier this year and has rewarded the team for their faith in him with a strong season in F3, where he finished runner up to Ugo Ugochukwu.

Slater has benefitted from working closely with Audi’s Racing Director Allan McNish, whose former role with the team was to run their junior academy, and the 18-year-old is set to graduate into the ranks of F2 next season, having signed with Invicta Racing.

Binotto was asked if Slater will take on more F1 duties in 2027, and the Italian was swift to reply.

"Or maybe even earlier," he said. "So, certainly Freddie is part of our driver development programme. High potential, he’s doing well. Just finished second in the championship.

“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.”

Young drivers are given the opportunity to feature in free practice sessions in F1, with each team that does not have a full-time rookie in their ranks asked to give up four separate FP1 sessions across the season to run someone who might benefit from the experience.

Audi have been running Paul Aron in that role this season, sharing the Estonian with Alpine. But it sounds like Slater could step into the cockpit of the R26 sooner rather than later, especially given Audi have only fulfilled two of their four FP1 slots so far.

But as to where Slater goes in the future, that will depend on how he develops as a driver according to Binotto, not to mention how the current Audi incumbents, Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg fare next season.

While Bortoleto is very much seen as the future of the team given his age, Hulkenberg will turn 40 midway through next season.

“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.”