Daily News 19

Tag: Audi Formula 1

  • Audi F1 Junior Freddie Slater Secures F2 Deal for 2027 Season

    Audi F1 Junior Freddie Slater Secures F2 Deal for 2027 Season

    Key Highlights

    • Formula 3 runner-up and Audi F1 junior Freddie Slater will join Invicta Racing for the 2027 Formula 2 season.
    • The 18-year-old Briton secured the 2024 Italian F4 and 2025 Formula Regional European titles before a strong rookie F3 campaign with Trident in 2026, claiming eight podiums and a victory in Hungary.
    • Slater follows the proven Trident-to-Invicta pipeline that produced back-to-back F2 rookie champions Gabriel Bortoleto and Leonardo Fornaroli, with Rafael Camara currently challenging for the 2026 F2 title.

    Slater Secures 2027 F2 Seat with Invicta Racing

    Formula 3 runner-up Freddie Slater has confirmed his graduation to the FIA Formula 2 Championship for the 2027 season, signing with the Norfolk-based Invicta Racing squad. The announcement marks a significant milestone for the 18-year-old British driver, who serves as a junior for the Audi Formula 1 programme and was recruited to spearhead the manufacturer’s new Driver Development Programme in 2026.

    Slater’s ascent has been rapid. After capturing the 2024 Italian F4 Championship and the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine titles, he stepped up to Formula 3 with the Trident team for the 2026 campaign. Despite being classified as a rookie—though he contested two rounds in 2025—Slater immediately demonstrated title credentials, stringing together four consecutive feature-race podiums to seize the championship lead heading into the summer break.

    Strong Rookie Campaign Yields Runner-Up Finish

    A late-season points drought, where Slater accrued just 15 points across the final five rounds, allowed Campos Racing driver Ugo Ugochukwu to overtake him in the standings. Nevertheless, the Briton finished a comfortable second in the final classification, securing eight total podiums including a feature-race victory in Hungary. He topped the rookie standings ahead of second-year driver Tuukka Taponen and fellow debutant Taito Kato.

    “I’m really excited to be stepping up to Formula 2 with Invicta Racing next year,” Slater said. “I learned a lot in Formula 3 this season, and I feel I have developed as a driver and as a person over the course of the year. Invicta has a great record in Formula 2, and I cannot wait to get started with the team and prepare for our campaign together. I am also very grateful for the continued support from the Audi Driver Development Programme. There is still a lot for me to learn, and I’m really looking forward to taking on this new challenge.”

    Following a Proven Championship Pathway

    Slater’s move replicates a highly successful trajectory established in recent years. The Trident-to-Invicta pipeline has delivered three consecutive Formula 3 champions—Gabriel Bortoleto, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara—who all transitioned to the Norfolk outfit for their rookie F2 campaigns. Bortoleto and Fornaroli each captured the F2 title in their first attempt, while Camara currently sits a close second in the 2026 standings, keeping the streak alive.

    Audi Driver Development Programme director Allan McNish emphasized the strategic fit. “The move to Formula 2 is the natural next step for Freddie, and an important new phase of his development as a driver,” said Audi Driver Development Programme director Allan McNish. “He enjoyed a strong Formula 3 season, fighting for the title until the final round – showing his speed, racecraft and progress throughout the year. We are very proud of what Freddie has achieved this season and how he has developed along the way. Invicta Racing has had an excellent record in recent years, and we are delighted to be working with them. We believe it is the ideal environment for him, and we look forward to supporting him as he takes on this new challenge in 2027.”

    Why This Matters

    Slater’s promotion underscores Audi’s long-term investment in young talent ahead of its anticipated Formula 1 entry. By placing their junior in a team with a documented history of developing rookie champions, the German manufacturer maximizes the probability of immediate competitiveness in F2. For Invicta Racing, securing a driver of Slater’s calibre—backed by a major OEM programme—reinforces their status as the premier destination for F3 graduates. The 2027 season will test whether Slater can convert his qualifying pace and racecraft into a title challenge, emulating Bortoleto and Fornaroli, or whether the step up in tyre management and race strategy presents a steeper learning curve.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When will Freddie Slater make his Formula 2 debut?

    Freddie Slater will debut in the FIA Formula 2 Championship at the start of the 2027 season with Invicta Racing.

    What championships has Slater won prior to F2?

    Slater won the 2024 Italian F4 Championship and the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine before finishing runner-up in the 2026 Formula 3 Championship.

    How does the Trident-to-Invicta pipeline benefit Slater?

    The last three Formula 3 champions—Gabriel Bortoleto, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara—won their titles with Trident before moving to Invicta Racing for F2. Bortoleto and Fornaroli both won the F2 championship as rookies, establishing a proven development pathway that Slater now enters.

  • Audi to Appeal Yuki Tsunoda’s Italian GP Result

    Audi to Appeal Yuki Tsunoda’s Italian GP Result

    The Audi Formula 1 team will proceed with its appeal against the stewards’ decision not to penalize Yuki Tsunoda for causing an extra formation lap at the Italian Grand Prix, Motorsport.com understands.

    Tsunoda’s Grid Alignment Triggers Aborted Start

    The incident occurred at the start of the Monza race when race director Rui Marques aborted the initial formation lap. Marques was not comfortable with the way the Japanese driver lined up in his grid box, angled towards the pit wall. The FIA race stewards reviewed the incident after the race but decided against issuing the customary stop-and-go penalty, which would have been converted into a 30-second time penalty.

    Regulation Article B5.9.4 Central to Dispute

    The appeal hinges on Article B5.9.4 of the F1 2026 sporting regulations, which states:

    “any driver who caused an extra formation lap, and is then able to start the, or any subsequent, extra formation lap must enter the pitlane at the end of the lap and must start… from the end of the pitlane.”

    Tsunoda’s Racing Bulls team argued that its driver was not out of his grid slot and did not impact his competitors. Race director Marques also explained that he acted out of an abundance of caution. Consequently, the team had not been notified by race control that Tsunoda was the cause of the extra formation lap, so it had no reason to instruct its driver to start from the pit exit.

    Stewards’ Interpretation and Audi’s Counter-Argument

    The stewards agreed with Racing Bulls’ interpretation of the rules. However, Audi promptly lodged an intention to appeal. The German manufacturer was directly affected by the non-penalty, as Gabriel Bortoleto finished 11th—one position behind Tsunoda—and would be promoted into a points-paying position if the verdict is overturned.

    By notifying the FIA of its intention to appeal, Audi secured a 96-hour window to study the rulebook, build a case, and decide whether to proceed. That window closes on Thursday night, and sources have now confirmed that Audi will follow through with the appeal procedure.

    Seeking Clarity for Future Precedent

    It is understood that Audi views the rulebook as unambiguous regarding penalties for causing an extra formation lap. The team argues that because the race director felt Tsunoda’s start position was sufficient reason to abort the start, Tsunoda should have been required to start from the pitlane regardless of the team’s notification status.

    Whether or not the appeal succeeds in overturning the decision, Audi is keen to obtain formal clarification from the race stewards to establish a clear precedent for future occasions. The FIA has yet to set a date for the appeal hearing.

  • Audi F1 Power Unit Facility Branded “second to none” by Rob Smedley

    Audi F1 Power Unit Facility Branded “second to none” by Rob Smedley

    Former Ferrari race engineer Rob Smedley has praised Audi’s Formula 1 power unit headquarters, describing the German manufacturer’s engine department as “second to none”.

    Speaking on the High Performance Racing podcast with host Jake Humphrey and former Alpine team principal Otmar Szafnauer, Smedley assessed the progress made across the F1 grid during the first half of the season.

    Audi has faced a steep learning curve since taking over the Sauber operation and entering Formula 1 as a works team. However, Smedley highlighted the scale and quality of the manufacturer’s investment in its powertrain programme.

    “Sauber, I mean, they were pretty desperate these last two or three years. They were just awful, there’s no other word for it,”

    the former engineer said.

    Szafnauer argued that Audi already owned the team at that stage, meaning it had strong financial backing and decent infrastructure. Smedley responded by pointing to the company’s facilities in Germany.

    “They’ve always had a very good wind tunnel, or have for a long time. But now, if you look at their facility in Germany, the engine facility, the power unit facility, that is second to none, and they’re still building and still going on it.

    Nico Hülkenberg, Audi

    Photo by: Eric Le Galliot

    “So, this is a huge project for them. Hinwil as a Formula 1 facility leaves maybe a little bit to be desired. But they’re expanding that, and there are plans of where they want to go with it. So, this is a really important project for them.”

    Audi retained Sauber’s 2025 driver line-up of Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto. After 12 rounds of the 2026 season, the team is eighth in the constructors’ championship with 16 points.

    Bortoleto is 14th in the drivers’ standings with 10 points, while Hulkenberg is 15th with six points.

    The 13th round of the season, the Italian Grand Prix, will be held at Monza from 4-6 September.

    Source: www.motorsport.com

  • Nico Rosberg Praises Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” Dutch GP Save

    Nico Rosberg Praises Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” Dutch GP Save

    2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg praised Nico Hulkenberg’s “spectacular” reaction after the Audi driver narrowly avoided a high-speed collision with team-mate Gabriel Bortoleto on the opening lap of the Dutch Grand Prix.

    Although the rain had stopped before the race began, several wet patches remained on the circuit. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen lost control on a damp section while navigating the banked final corner and crashed into the barriers. Bortoleto suffered a similar incident but managed to continue after spinning 360 degrees.

    As Bortoleto spun across the track in front of him, Hulkenberg was briefly engulfed in tyre smoke. When the smoke cleared, he found his Audi team-mate directly ahead.

    Speaking during the Sky Sports F1 broadcast, Rosberg highlighted how the 39-year-old avoided a potentially major crash.

    “It just shows how quick those drivers react. Hulkenberg went in; he knew more or less where Bortoleto was, where his trajectory was going,” Rosberg explained. “He has a white wall, but then at the last moment sees him and bam, reacts and avoids [a crash].

    “It was a spectacular reaction from Hulkenberg, so I don’t think it was just luck. I think there was also some skill there to avoid that big crash.”

    Hulkenberg went on to secure his best result of the season by finishing eighth, earning four valuable points for Audi. Bortoleto recovered from his spin to take 13th place.

    Hulkenberg explains Dutch Grand Prix near-miss

    The German driver later described the incident while speaking to Sky Sports Germany.

    “Yeah, it was tricky and dicey. Naturally, I saw it all happen almost in slow motion at that speed.

    “But Turn 14 was simply still completely wet and, on slicks, it’s a bit of a thriller, of course. I saw him lose the car—like I said, slow motion and at speed. But then you don’t know exactly whether he’s going to slide up or slide down, what’s going to happen.

    “And it was clear to me: hey, I have to try to somehow get around this. On top of that, there was all the debris and the smoke from Max ahead. So it looked wild and spectacular. I slowed down and tried to wait as long as possible before deciding which way to go. A sheet of paper would have fitted between us, but not much more.”

    Nico Hülkenberg, Audi

    Source: www.motorsport.com