What happened: Slater's two Free Practice 1 appearances mark his first official Formula 1 weekend sessions after advancing through Italian F4 and Formula Regional European competition, per Autosport. The German manufacturer established its junior program alongside its 2026 takeover of Sauber, placing Slater at the forefront of the new academy.

Why it matters: The twin outings put the Audi Driver Development Programme's centerpiece into Grand Prix machinery during the constructor's maiden 2026 season following Mattia Binotto's return as team principal. Running Slater across two race weekends gives the works operation its first Formula 1 session benchmark for its in-house talent pipeline.

What to watch: Formula 1 stops at Circuit of the Americas first for the United States Grand Prix before Slater steps into the cockpit in Mexico City and Sao Paulo.