New Formula 1 outfit Audi has made a statement signing to its junior programme, adding the highly-rated Freddie Slater.
The 17-year-old Briton is arguably the prized asset among the drivers currently on the junior single-seater ladder, and his lack of attachment to an existing F1 junior programme has been a source of curiosity over the last couple of years.
But reports began to come out at the end of last year that he would choose Audi as his F1 benefactor, and this has now been borne out officially.
Former Toyota F1 driver and three-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner (twice with Audi, once with Porsche) Allan McNish was named the head of Audi's junior programme just a few days prior.
McNish described Slater as someone who has "the immense potential of a future star".
"His track record is remarkable, but more importantly, he possesses the focus, determination, and willingness to learn that are essential for reaching the pinnacle of our sport," McNish added.
Slater is currently competing in the off-season, New Zealand-based Formula Regional Oceania, where he has two wins and is on the heels of former McLaren F1 junior Ugo Ugochukwu ahead of the title-deciding weekend.
He was karting world champion and twice European champion, won 16 of his 20 starts in Ginetta Junior - a 'bridge' series for karts-to-cars hopefuls that Lando Norris also competed in a decade prior - then won titles in UAE F4, Italian F4 and Formula Regional European.
He will spent the 2026 season, after his New Zealand foray, in the Formula 1-supporting FIA Formula 3, driving for the category's standout team Trident.
The Race says...
Audi describes the signing of Slater as "a significant milestone" in its long-term F1 strategy. That's a bold thing to say about a junior driver who still isn't even age-eligible for a superlicence, but for once this is no hyperbole.
There was a real gleefulness about this impending announcement during Audi's 2026 launch in Berlin, even though details were still very heavily-guarded - Audi keen to drip-feed the news out, but also insistent that this is a major ingredient in its effort to not just lay the long-term foundations for F1 success, but show any remaining sceptics it is extremely serious about succeeding and not just participating.
Capturing Slater is a real statement of intent and a real calling card for Audi's new junior scheme under McNish.
Though projecting a driver to reach F1 when he still hasn't done even a full F1 season is folly, Slater gives Audi the ideal Nico Hulkenberg succession plan - and, if his development pans out, could be a superweapon ready just in time for when its F1 programme is ready to be fighting for serious accolades.
Up to now, Slater's track record is at the very least comparable to Kimi Antonelli's. It may well be better. It's also - as already alluded to before - almost like a supercharged version of Norris's route through the juniors.
That is an unlikely momentum to keep up, but if there's anyone you'd want in your F1 junior programme right now, it's this guy. And he didn't go to McLaren, Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari - but Audi.
