Photo: Trident
Freddie Slater has secured a seat with Trident to make the full-time step up to FIA Formula 3 in 2026
The 17-year-old Brit is currently leading the Formula Regional European Championship in his rookie season while driving for Prema, with a three-point advantage over Trident driver Matteo de Palo.
Slater won the Italian and Middle Eastern Formula 4 titles with Prema in 2024 in his first full year of single-seater racing, but he will follow in the footsteps of Rafael Camara by switching to Trident for the move to F3.
Trident has now run the last three F3 drivers’ champions, with Camara succeeding Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriel Bortoleto.
“It’s really exciting to start a new journey with a new team,” Slater said. “Trident has had a lot of success in recent years, so to be jumping into a team like this, I’m really grateful for the opportunity. Hopefully we’ll have a good season together.”
Slater has already made two appearances in FIA F3 this year, finishing second in his debut sprint race with AIX Racing in Bahrain and later driving for Hitech at Spa-Francorchamps. He’s also taken three wins from three rounds in GB3 with Hillspeed.
“Freddie is an exceptionally talented driver who has consistently shown himself to be among the very best, in every category he has raced, from karting to single-seaters,” said Trident team manager Giacomo Ricci.
“It is a source of great pride for us to welcome him into the team, and we are convinced that a driver of his calibre will bring significant value to the entire organisation.”