Photo: ACI Sport
Sebastian Wheldon will race in the FIA Formula 3 championship in 2027, joining his Formula Regional rival, Kean Nakamura-Berta, at Trident Motorsport.
The 17-year-old Anglo-American was runner-up in this year’s Formula Regional European Championship driving for MP Motorsport, having made a last-minute switch from Prema. He won four races, including a double at the team’s home race at Zandvoort and the season finale at Hockenheim, to beat Nakamura-Berta in the standings.
Wheldon, son of the late 2005 IndyCar champion Dan, has been an Andretti junior since 2021. His single-seater career began in 2023, when he won the USA’s Skip Barber Formula Race Series, and the following year he was YACademy Winter Series runner-up then third in IndyCar support series USF Juniors with four victories.
He moved to Europe for 2025, racing with Prema in the Italian F4 and E4, losing out to Nakamura-Berta in both, as well as its partner team, Mumbai Falcons in the UAE series.
Trident has consistently been one of the dominant teams in F3 since 2021, winning three consecutive drivers titles in that period with Gabriel Bortoleto, Leonardo Fornaroli and Rafael Camara. While the Italian squad had to settle for second this year in the hands of Freddie Slater, as Campos Racing gained the upper hand, a place in the team’s three-car line-up remains one of F3’s most sought-after berths.
Speaking about his graduation to F3, Wheldon admits that “there’s a lot of pressure, as I’ll be racing for one of the most successful teams in the category.
“However, I love a challenge and will give my all to learn quickly and achieve good results. I’m extremely grateful to TWG and Andretti Global for their support. I can’t wait for next season to begin. Let’s go!”
Trident team manager Giacomo Ricci added: “We are delighted to announce our agreement with Sebastian Wheldon for the 2027 FIA Formula 3 Championship season. Sebastian is a driver who has demonstrated consistent growth throughout his career, distinguishing himself both in the United States and Europe.
“His 2026 Formula Regional season, which he finished in second place, confirmed his talent and ability to compete at the highest level. We are confident that Trident Motorsport represents the ideal environment to support him in the next step of his promising career.”