Audi looks far ahead: signed the baby phenomenon Slater for the Academy

Big shot for the future The adventure of the new Driver Development Program inaugurated a few days ago by Audi in conjunction with the Ingolstadt company’s debut in Formula 1 begins with a bang. The programme, led by former driver Allan McNish, has in fact formalized the hiring of 17-year-old Freddie Slater, considered by many to be the next superstar of British motorsport. Slater will make his debut in F3 this year with the Trident team and in recent years he has stood out for having achieved repeated successes in almost all the categories in which he has raced: between 2024 and 2025 alone the boy from Stratford-upon-Avon won the UAE and Italian Formula 4 championships and the European Formula Regional title, partly retracing the footsteps of Kimi Antonelli. The hiring of Slater as the first driver of its Academy represents a very clear message from Audi: we are here to stay and we are aiming more than ever for the talents of the future. McNish and Slater’s words: “In Freddie we see the immense potential of a future star. His CV is impressive, but above all he possesses the focus, determination and willingness to learn that are essential to reaching the pinnacle of our sport – said McNish – he is the ideal candidate to be the first hire of the Audi Driver Development Program and we are committed to providing him with the tools, guidance and support he needs to succeed as he steps up to Formula 3 with Trident Motorsport. This is the first step to build our future on and off the track.” “It is an incredible honor to be the first driver selected for Audi’s driver development programme,” commented Slater for his part. “Audi is a brand with a legendary history in motorsport and to have their trust and support at this crucial stage of my career is a dream come true. Joining forces with a respected team like Trident Motorsport for Formula 3 and having the support of the Audi Revolut F1 Team is a huge opportunity. I am completely focused on working hard and making the most of this vital step towards my goal of reaching Formula 1.”