Kean Nakamura-Berta has finally secured his future in single-seaters. After three years with Prema, the Williams F1 junior driver has officially joined Trident Motorsport for his debut in FIA Formula 3 in 2027. This news marks a significant milestone in the career of a driver long regarded as one of the most promising talents from the Williams academy.
Nakamura-Berta's journey to F3 has been anything but instant. He first made his mark in karting, winning both World and European titles. He then spent two seasons in Italian Formula 4 with Prema. The decision to stay in the series paid off. In his second season, he dominated with nine wins and eight other podiums from 20 races, clinching the title. He also added the E4 crown, taking four wins and four other podiums from nine races.
His transition to Formula Regional was equally smooth. With Prema's partner team, Mumbai Falcons, Nakamura-Berta won the Middle East Trophy at the start of the year. In the European series, he was competitive with three wins and five poles, though he had to settle for runner-up after being pitched out of second place in the final race by a rival. Nevertheless, his strong performances throughout the season convinced many that he was ready for the next step.
"I am pleased to be stepping up to F3 with Trident Motorsport, while still having the ongoing support of the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy," said Nakamura-Berta. "Completing a strong season in FREC and having the opportunity to join such a competitive team in F3 gives me great confidence as I look ahead to my F3 debut next year. A big thank you to everyone involved who helped get me here."
The decision to join Trident is no coincidence. The Italian team has been the dominant force in FIA F3 in recent seasons, taking a hat-trick of drivers' titles in 2023, 2024, and 2025 with Gabriel Bortoleto, Leonardo Fornaroli, and Rafael Camara. Although they had to settle for runner-up in 2026 with Freddie Slater in the final round, Trident still demonstrated its class as a team capable of producing champions.
Trident's Team Manager, Giacomo Ricci, welcomed Nakamura-Berta's arrival. "Kean is a driver we have known and followed for some time, and he has demonstrated he has all the qualities needed to take this important step. His journey, from karting to Formula Regional, has been marked by constant growth and impressive results," he said. "We are convinced that Trident represents the ideal environment to allow Kean to continue his growth and express his full potential in the FIA Formula 3 series."
Williams will also continue to support Nakamura-Berta in 2027. Williams Sporting Director Sven Smeets described his driver's progress as impressive. "This is a great moment for the Driver Academy, and a fitting reflection of the opportunities it creates for the next generation of talented drivers," said Smeets. With a team of Trident's calibre and full support from Williams, Nakamura-Berta's step up to F3 next season will be one of the most anticipated moves.
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