Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Formula 1
Marcus Chan
Audi have announced a new driver moments into their first pre-season test in Barcelona.
This week, teams are ramping up their preparations ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season with a private test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Ahead of the new campaign, Audi's much-anticipated entry into F1 was brought to life after they launched their challenger for 2026, the R-26.
The German manufacturers have taken over Kick Sauber and have retained the driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto.
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On Monday, as the team took part in the first day of the Barcelona test, a new driver was announced.
As reported by Motorsport, Audi have snapped up Formula Regional European champion Freddie Slater as their development driver.
At the age of just 17, Slater has already clinched three single-seater titles, having won the United Arab Emirates and Italian Formula 4 championships in 2024, then the Formula Regional European Championship.
Previously, the young Brit was a European and World Karting champion.
Speaking about joining Audi, Slater said: "It’s an incredible honour to be the first driver selected for the Audi Driver Development Programme.
"Audi is a brand with a legendary motorsport history, and to have their trust and support at this crucial stage of my career is a dream come true."
He continued: "Joining forces with a respected team like Trident Motorsport for Formula 3 and having the backing of Audi F1 Team is a massive opportunity. I am fully focused on working hard and making the most of this pivotal step towards my goal of reaching Formula 1."
Speaking at the team's official 2026 launch, Audi F1 team principal Jonathan Wheatley spoke about the team's car.
He said: "I think, as you know, to be running the car as early as we did, we made a decision on a launch bodywork. You can probably imagine that there's a lot more to come over the course of the season.
"But certainly, for the first race, I think most teams will be looking to introduce some kind of upgrade, perhaps in the second Bahrain test just before the first race, just to prove things correlation-wise."