Maknish: Drivers need to be helped to learn from their mistakes.

      In January of this year, ahead of its first season in Formula 1, the new factory team Audi announced the launch of the Driver Development Programme (DDP) – its own driver training program. It is led by Alan McNish, who combines this role with that of the team's racing director, and currently, there are two participants in the program – Freddy Slater, a 17-year-old Brit leading the Formula 3 standings, and 19-year-old Austrian driver Emma Felbermayr, competing in the women's F1 Academy series. "The task of a driver is not only to drive fast; they must also be a kind of team leader," McNish reflected in an interview with the championship's official website. "Drivers can contribute to creating a positive atmosphere within the team, but sometimes it can be the opposite. Since we have serious intentions and want to compete at the highest level, our program must have worthy participants. Quite early, back in 2023, I thought about how to organize such a program, what it could be like, and what tasks it should perform. All of this was laid out in our plan, after which in 2024 and especially in 2025, we began its implementation, and this year the program started. I would say that it is a kind of living organism that must evolve because drivers evolve too; after all, Freddy Slater has obviously become quite different compared to what he was at 14. Honestly, I like this dynamic... I remember what I was like at 17 – in terms of personal development, I was at a completely different level compared to what I became at 21 or 22. And I see this while observing Gabriel Bortoleto, a driver on our Formula 1 team. Together with Freddy, he was on my list of candidates for our program from the very beginning – Gabriel had just recently debuted in F3. I was keeping an eye on six drivers, and it’s nice that two of them are still working with us today. Moreover, Bortoleto has noticeably improved over the last 24 months. In the process of developing a driver, it is not possible to transfer someone else's experience to them; however, drivers can certainly be supported, helped to learn from their own mistakes because everyone makes mistakes. I make mistakes, Nico Hülkenberg makes them, and Gabriel does too, but the question is what conclusions you draw. You could say that it is a kind of university, where the education lasts a very long time." Here’s what Freddy Slater says about the experience of working with a mentor like Alan McNish: "Alan was the first person from Audi I spoke to, and at times he was like a second father to me. He has gone through a lot himself and helps me understand how motorsport works and what kind of psychological mindset you should have. After each race weekend, we talk, and his opinion is very valuable to me..." Of course, all young drivers dream of Formula 1, and the task of the DDP program is to facilitate their development and growth, helping them to make the most of all emerging opportunities. "We have set two specific goals," McNish added. "One is to prepare drivers for Formula 1. But we also help female drivers achieve victories in the F1 Academy, and this is also a strategic task. When I recall the history of Audi's sporting successes, it is enough to mention names like Michèle Mouton, Rachael Frey, or Tamara Vidali, who have made their mark over the years since the 80s thanks to their successes behind the wheel of Audi cars. But now it is time for us to think about who will come into our program after Freddy and Emma, and we are currently in the process of selecting such candidates. It’s not about finding those who will replace them, but about who will continue the work they have started together."