Mattia Binotto says Audi wants Freddie Slater in an F1 seat “in the near future”

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Audi CEO Mattia Binotto has reiterated the company’s intention to bring Freddie Slater into Formula 1, telling reporters in Azerbaijan that the youngster is “into an F1 seat” “in the near future.” Slater, who signed with Audi earlier this year as part of the team’s Driver Development Programme, finished runner-up in the Formula 3 championship this season behind Ugo Ugochukwu, validating Audi’s faith in its junior driver pathway.

Binotto’s comments were asked in the context of future timing. When he was asked whether Slater might take on more Formula 1 duties in 2027, Binotto replied: “Or maybe even earlier.” He added that Slater is already viewed as part of the development plan and pointed to the progress demonstrated through his F3 season, including a period in which Binotto said Slater had been “abusing a bit too much on the tyres” earlier in the year before becoming “more balanced,” better managing races and finishing strongly as the season progressed.

Slater is also set to graduate to Formula 2 next season after signing with Invicta Racing. Binotto linked the development process to Audi’s broader junior structure, including Slater’s work with Audi Racing Director Allan McNish—who previously led the team’s junior academy—while emphasizing that the next step to Formula 1 will ultimately depend on Slater’s continued development and results.

Binotto noted that one of the ways young drivers gain experience in Formula 1 is through free practice participation. Under Formula 1 rules, each team without a full-time rookie is required to give up four separate FP1 sessions across the season to run a driver who can benefit from that experience. This season, Audi has been using Paul Aron in that role, sharing the opportunities with Alpine. However, the structure of Audi’s rookie allocations suggests Slater could be considered for an FP1 appearance sooner, with Binotto’s remarks coming amid the detail that Audi have only fulfilled two of their four FP1 slots so far this year.

Looking further ahead, Binotto said that where Slater goes “in the future” depends on how he develops and also on the performance of Audi’s current Formula 1 drivers—Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg—next season. He also pointed out that Hulkenberg will turn 40 midway through 2027, while Bortoleto is widely viewed as the team’s long-term prospect given his age. In that context, Binotto framed the team’s intention as a longer-term plan rather than a fixed timetable: “F1 seat in the future, that will depend on how strong [Slater] will continue developing,” he said, adding that when a driver is in an academy, “the plans are for him, sooner or later, to be in your F1 seat.”