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Audi investigated after fan was left in Slater’s car at Mexico City GP

Conceptual AI-generated editorial motorsport illustration; not a documentary photograph or evidence that a pictured event, meeting or transfer occurred. · 2026-11-01GPBeat newsroom · News Made Clear generated illustration

Freddie Slater was recalled during his first F1 practice outing in Mexico after a cooling fan remained inside his Audi. Stewards investigated the car’s release; Slater later returned to the track and set a time.

GPBeat · Newsroom01 Nov 2026, 16:29 · 1 min

Freddie Slater’s first F1 practice outing at the Mexico City Grand Prix was interrupted after he was sent onto the track with a cooling fan still inside the right-hand sidepod of his Audi. Audi recalled the 18-year-old to remove it. Stewards investigated the team after the session over the car’s release in an unsafe condition.

Slater was driving in place of Gabriel Bortoleto. On his next lap, he was called back to the pits again and told to turn off the engine. He had completed six laps without setting a time at that point. With just under 11 minutes remaining, he returned to the track. His final push lap was 1:20.945, 2.817 seconds behind Charles Leclerc.

Slater finished second on his F3 debut this season and is due to move up to F2 with Invicta next season. Before then, he is scheduled to replace Hülkenberg in FP1 at next weekend’s São Paulo Grand Prix.

Sources 01
  1. SOURCEBritish rookie involved in unusual pit error as Audi to face Mexico City GP stewardsRacingNews365 English

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