Williams junior Kean Nakamura-Berta secures F3 promotion with Trident
Williams Racing junior talent Kean Nakamura-Berta is set to step up to FIA Formula 3 next season, joining grid powerhouse Trident Motorsport while maintaining his backing from the Williams Driver Academy.
The 18-year-old racer, who is half-Japanese and half-Slovakian, earns his promotion following an impressive campaign in the Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine (FREC). Nakamura-Berta secured third in the overall standings after a consistent run that included eight podium finishes and three race victories.
Following a Proven Junior Pathway
By making the jump from FREC directly into a Trident seat, Nakamura-Berta follows the established developmental route of 2025 F3 champion Rafael Câmara as well as runner-up Freddie Slater, who both made the exact same progression with the Italian outfit.
Nakamura-Berta’s single-seater journey began when he made his car racing debut in the 2023 F4 South East Asia Championship. He quickly built momentum, finishing as runner-up in the 2024 Formula 4 UAE Championship.
His breakthrough run continued in 2025, when he captured back-to-back crowns across both the F4 Championship and Italian Formula 4, before subsequently adding the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy and his third-place FREC finish this year.
Confidence Ahead of Rookie F3 Season
Speaking about his graduation to the Formula 1 support package, Nakamura-Berta expressed his excitement about joining one of the premier outfits in junior single-seater racing.
“Pleased to be stepping up to F3,” said Nakamura-Berta regarding the continuous backing from the Grove-based squad. “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.”
Williams sporting director Sven Smeets also praised the young driver's development path into the championship.
“A proud moment to see Kean step up to F3 with Trident Motorsport for his rookie season,” Smeets stated, adding that the move highlights “the opportunities it creates for the next generation of talented drivers.”
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.