Freddie Slater describes surreal first F1 outings as he prepares for Formula 2

Freddie Slater’s first Formula 1 outings were interrupted by mechanical problems, cutting short his running for Audi in free practice at both the Mexican and São Paulo Grands Prix. The 18-year-old described his first experiences in the car as surreal. The BBC notes that mechanical problems are not unusual in practice, when teams and drivers are still learning the circuit and what setup works best.

Slater told the BBC he had never experienced anything like the 350kph (217mph) run into Turn 1 in Mexico. The scale of the operation impressed him too: he said hundreds of people work behind a driver to get an F1 car onto the track. He had not expected the opportunity to come so early and said he had waited his whole life for it.

His route through junior racing ran from karting to a Formula Regional title and, most recently, a runner-up finish in Formula 3. Slater was the first driver signed to Audi’s driver-development programme, which led to his F1 outings.

Slater is now preparing for a Formula 2 season with Invicta Racing. He is not due back on track until next year, although he is also likely to feature in another practice session in the not-too-distant future with Audi’s support. In the meantime, he will put in hours on the simulator and go to the gym daily to stay fit. He says his aim each year is to win a championship while continuing to develop as a driver.