PREMA Racing’s Freddie Slater delivered a commanding performance at Hockenheim to secure his sixth victory of the 2025 Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FRECA) season. The Briton demonstrated patience, precision, and control in a race that tested drivers’ skill and composure amid tricky track conditions.
The win also allowed Slater to regain the upper hand in his intense championship duel with Trident Motorsport’s Matteo De Palo, as the pair entered the weekend level on points. With just one round remaining, the fight for the title remains finely balanced — but Slater’s victory on Saturday gives him a crucial ten-point advantage heading into Race 2.
A calculated and composed drive from Slater
Starting from third on the grid after a wet qualifying session, Slater wasted no time climbing through the order. Despite the slick tyres on a damp track, he kept his cool, making calculated moves as the field jostled for position in the opening laps.
After overtaking R-ace GP’s Akshay Bohra and later capitalising on a mistake from De Palo, Slater took control of the race and managed the pace expertly to the chequered flag. Reflecting on his performance, the young Briton highlighted the importance of patience and race management at this decisive stage of the season.
“Every race is important at this stage of the season, and after a difficult qualifying this morning it was crucial to bounce back. We knew we had the pace in the race, so it was about being patient, managing the situation, and waiting for the right opportunities. In the end, that approach really paid off.”
“The key today was patience and focus. From the first laps I understood we had a strong car, but even with a pace advantage you can’t always make a move immediately. I had to time the overtakes carefully, and I think that shows how I’ve matured as a driver compared to a year ago.”
“Looking ahead to tomorrow, it’s difficult to predict, especially with the weather, which can change quickly here. Whatever the conditions, we’ll be ready to fight again and try to maximize the result.”
Bohra battles hard for second
R-ace GP’s Akshay Bohra also delivered a strong result, finishing second after an early battle with both De Palo and Slater. Although he momentarily took the race lead following contact between the title contenders, the Indian driver was ultimately unable to match Slater’s pace in the latter stages.
Nonetheless, the podium marked another positive result in a consistent campaign for Bohra, who continues to demonstrate adaptability across varying conditions.
“From a results perspective, I think we maximized what we could today, even if it wasn’t the cleanest race. I probably could have defended a bit harder at the start, but in the end we were just missing a little bit of pace. Once Freddie got past, it was mainly about focusing on consistent laps to bring the car home.”
Tomorrow I’ll be starting from seventh, so the approach will be straightforward: eyes forward, nothing to lose, and the aim is to keep learning and making progress. I have to thank the team, they’ve been doing a mega job all year. The support from my engineer and everyone at R-ace GP has really helped me grow as a driver, improving in different conditions and situations. There’s still more work to do, but overall, I’m pleased with how far we’ve come.”
De Palo left searching for answers
Championship contender Matteo De Palo endured a more challenging outing, finishing third after starting from pole. The Italian initially controlled the race bu began to suffer from tyre degradation after the opening laps, losing grip and struggling to match Slater’s relentless pace.
Despite a valiant defensive effort, De Palo had to settle for the final podium position — a result that keeps him in the title hunt but leaves work to be done before Race 2.
“It hasn’t been my best race of the season. After five or six laps I started to struggle a lot with the front tyres, while Freddie’s pace was clearly stronger. The key moment was when I tried to pull away early on, but then it became about defending the position as much as possible. We’ll analyse everything tonight and focus on improving, because if we make a step forward I’m confident we can fight for the win tomorrow.”
De Palo’s comments suggest Trident will make significant setup changes overnight in an attempt to restore front-end grip and remain competitive in what has become a tense title battle.
Gowda impresses as Best Rookie
Elsewhere, Van Amersfoort Racing’s Dion Gowda continued his steady rise through the field, finishing as the top rookie in what he described as a “very competitive” race. Despite a small mistake on the damp surface, the Singaporean driver showed confidence and composure to bring home another strong result.
“The race was very competitive, and even though I made a small mistake on the slippery part of the track and lost a few positions, it was still a big step forward compared to the last couple of rounds. I feel I’m improving every weekend, gaining experience and learning more each time. Starting again inside the top ten tomorrow gives me confidence, and if the weather changes, anything can happen, so we’ll be ready to take every opportunity.”
Gowda’s growing consistency has positioned him among the standout rookies of the season, showcasing his ability to adapt quickly to FRECA’s technical demands.
A championship battle far from over
With Slater now holding a slender ten-point lead over De Palo, the FRECA title race remains finely poised heading into Sunday’s Race 2. Both drivers have demonstrated exceptional speed and racecraft throughout the season, but consistency and composure will likely decide the outcome as the championship nears its conclusion. At Hockenheim, Freddie Slater once again proved that patience, precision, and confidence under pressure are the hallmarks of a true title contender.
