In a move that signals Audi’s continued investment in young talent, Formula 1 junior Freddie Slater has secured a seat in the 2027 Formula 2 championship with Invicta Racing. The 21‑year‑old, who finished as the runner‑up in the 2023 FIA Formula 3 Championship, will be the first Audi‑affiliated driver to compete in F2, a key step on the path to the world’s top racing series.
Per Formula1.com, the deal was announced on 25 September, with Slater expressing enthusiasm about the opportunity to test his skills against a deeper field of drivers and to gain experience on the more powerful cars that sit just one tier below Formula 1. Motorsport.com echoed the news, noting that the move comes after Slater’s impressive performances in the 2023 F3 season, where he claimed three victories and finished second in the standings.
Invicta Racing, a team that has been a regular competitor in F2 since 2016, will field Slater alongside their existing driver lineup. The partnership is expected to give Slater access to the team’s advanced data‑analysis tools and a seasoned engineering crew, both crucial for honing the skills needed to progress to higher categories. Audi’s junior programme, which has already produced drivers like Lando Norris and Mick Schumacher, will now be able to track Slater’s development from F2 onward.
For Indian fans, the 2027 F2 season will start in late March, with the opening round at the Bahrain International Circuit. The series will be available for live streaming on FanCode, with commentary in Hindi and English. Slater’s debut will likely attract attention from the Indian motorsport community, as the country continues to nurture its own F2‑level talent such as Lando Norris’s compatriot, Indian driver Karthik Raghunathan, who has been eyeing a future in the series.
Source: Formula1.com, Motorsport.com
