Freddie Slater made an eye-catching start to his 2026 F3 campaign by topping the timesheets on Day 1 of pre-season testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Driving for Trident, the British teenager overcame a disrupted opening day to emerge as the fastest driver once conditions improved, underlining both his pace and adaptability ahead of the season opener in Melbourne.
The opening morning offered little opportunity for representative running. Heavy rain and cold temperatures limited track action, and several drivers, including Slater, did not set a lap. As a result, the focus shifted towards data gathering rather than outright performance. However, as the afternoon session unfolded and the track dried, teams finally gained the chance to explore the new Hard compound and push closer to race-relevant conditions.
A productive afternoon unlocks performance for Slater on opening day of 2026 F3 pre-season testing in Barcelona
With grip levels improving late in the day, Slater timed his run to perfection. He waited until the final stages of the session before delivering a 1:28.411, a lap that placed him comfortably ahead of ART Grand Prix’s Kanato Le and secured P1 for the day. Reflecting on the contrasting conditions across the sessions, Slater, while speaking to Formula 3, emphasised the value of patience and preparation, particularly after a slow start.
“Obviously, a little bit of a slow morning here in Barcelona with the weather, but then a productive afternoon,” said Slater. “I think we got a lot of good data and a lot of good running in.”
That steady build-up allowed him to unlock meaningful gains as the day progressed. He pointed to personal development behind the wheel as a key takeaway from the session.
“There were good improvements on my side especially, I made a really big step and that’s what we’ve got to do, finesse my driving to the absolute best we can before we get to Melbourne. So, I think a productive day, two more days to go. The weather is obviously a little bit unpredictable as well and very cold, but no, I think it’s positive.”
Blending feel and data on track for continuous improvement throughout the day
Slater also detailed how he approaches performance improvement during a test day, explaining that his awareness in the cockpit often leads the analysis process. Rather than relying solely on data to uncover lap time, he uses it to validate what he already senses while driving.
“I’d say I am quite strong mental side of things,” he explained. “I think with my driving, I understand where I’ve lost time quite quickly and I need the data just to confirm it, not always find it.”
That adaptability proved vital on a day shaped by changing conditions and multiple interruptions. Slater highlighted the importance of responding to those variables in real time.
“So, I’m always trying to adapt my driving, make it even faster throughout the lap, obviously whenever you go on track, it’s never the same every single time,” he said, adding, “So, you have to adapt to the car you’ve got at that given time. So, it’s my job to do that when I’m out there and I think we’ve done a decent job today, but there’s obviously many more days to come and we need to keep pushing.”
Slater on strengthening the relationship with Trident during 2026 F3 pre-season testing in Barcelona
Beyond lap times, the opening test also served as an important step in building chemistry with Trident, a team Slater is racing with for the first time in 2026. He stressed that learning works both ways, with driver and engineers aligning their approaches as the test continues.
“I think it’s about learning,” he said when asked about testing. “I think the team are learning more about me as well. We’re working together better, they know what I want, I know what they want as well.”
That growing understanding will be crucial, especially with the opening round set to take place at a circuit Slater has yet to race on.
“So, we’re getting to know each other better and better by day and obviously Melbourne is going to be very tricky, especially with a track I don’t know. So, it’s going to be very important to get a good feeling here to make it easier for when we go there, but it’s been a good time so far with Trident and we keep pushing.”
Remaining two days of pre-season testing vital ahead of Melbourne opener
Looking forward to the remaining two days in Barcelona, Slater acknowledged that cool temperatures continue to complicate tyre preparation, particularly on the Hard compound. Even after topping the timesheets, he remained focused on the areas that still need refinement.
“There’s definitely things I want to work on,” he said, adding “There’s a lot of things I want to work on. There’s a lot of simple stuff that we can work on, a bit more technical stuff, so there’s a range of stuff.”
While details remain under wraps, Slater made it clear that these final sessions play a vital role in shaping his readiness for the season ahead.
“Obviously, I can’t share that sort of thing, but it’s pretty clear what I need to do to give myself the best opportunity this year. We will try and maximise that.”
With Jin Nakamura leading the wet-affected morning session and Slater topping the afternoon running, Day 1 of pre-season testing provided early momentum and intrigue. As conditions remain unpredictable, the remaining days in Barcelona will be crucial in fine-tuning both car and driver before the championship begins in earnest.
