Trident has rapidly become a name synonymous with junior single-seaters, most notably Formula 2 and Formula 3. Now with a formidable line-up in both F2 and F3, the Italian team are eyeing up championship glory in 2026.
Formula 3 continues to provide the goods for Trident
FIA Formula 3 has long been the series that has delivered the goods for Trident. The Italian team, that has been competing in the junior category since its inaugural campaign in 2018, boast four driver’s titles and one team’s title in the last eight years.
Jack Doohan, Leonardo Fornaroli, Rafael Camara and Gabriel Bortoleto are just some of the names that has competed under Giacomo Ricci in the junior category.
Three of these drivers have walked away as champions with Doohan coming narrowly close in 2021.
Current Trident F3 driver and Audi protégé Freddie Slater described the team perfectly as “mega” after signing with the team for the 2026 season.
Following Slater’s maiden victory in Budapest, Trident find themselves at the front of the F3 standings once more after.
In a press conference at the end of last season which Pit Debrief attened, Ricci explained what the key ingredients are for his team’s success in F3.
“The first thing that is very tough at the start is to move the team in a positive loop. Once you can move the team in a positive loop, you can attract a competitive driver every year. And having a very talented and strong driver, this is for me the first part.”
“Regarding the preparation, I have to say that we are extremely dedicated on this topic. Also, to try to create within the team this positive atmosphere. Because we have to consider in Formula 3, especially, they are very young and quite inexperienced.”
2026 saw Trident retain Danish driver Noah Stromsted for their eighth campaign in the category. Lining up alongside him were McLaren junior Matteo De Palo and generational talent Freddie Slater.
It was a line-up to be feared after De Palo and Slater had locked horns the previous season in FREC.
The issues stopping Trident ending five year runners up streak in Formula 3
While both Stromsted and De Palo’s seasons have been below par, Slater has taken the series by storm and, off the back of a maiden win in Budapest, leads the championship by eight points.
While the young Audi protégé continues to look like an unbeatable force at the top of the standings, his Trident team remains stuck in the runners up position in the team’s standings.
It seems to be a common story for the Italian outfit having finished runners-up consecutively the last five seasons.
With Slater running riot while his teammates falter, Ricci will be aware this is the biggest issue hampering Trident in their team’s title charge. All three drivers must be working at an even level to challenge Campos who lead the team’s standings.
Lack of F1 experience sees Trident Formula 3 talent slip through the pipe
While Trident’s F3 team continue to push for championships and race wins, further up the pyramid the F2 squad has struggled to make headway in a series they have been competing in for 20 years.
Initially established in 2006 to compete in the then GP2, both the driver’s and team’s titles have proved to be elusive for Trident.
Often propping up the rear of the field, the team’s form in 2026 has surprised the majority of the paddock. Four podiums in nine rounds see the team with more points after nine rounds than they had at the end of 2025.
Both Laurens Van Hoepen and John Bennett continue to deliver for the Italian outfit and show promise. However, issues remain rooted deeper for Trident as titles continue to prove allusive in F2.
Trouble retaining drivers
Trident has homed the last three Formula 3 champions but all have jumped ship when making the step up to Formula 2.
Results in previous years undoubtedly motivate these decisions with driver’s seeking to move to neighbouring teams that boast titles.
Yet one other major reason may lie within the team’s management structure. As of 2026, the Italian team remains one of the few teams on the grid not to boast F1 experience within its managerial hierarchy.
Team manager Giacomo Ricci brings racing experience having competed in single-seaters up to GP2 before moving over to the Auto GP World Series after four seasons in a GP2 category.
Meanwhile, team founder Maurizio Salvadori comes from a business background with a passion for racing.
The lack of Formula 1 experience at a high level will undoubtably play on driver’s minds when making the move up to Formula 2, especially those who have been crowned champion in F3.
Looking to make the leap to Formula 1, experience, mentorship and guidance from people with F1 experience is key. Drivers want to be exposed to masses of F1 experience so to bolster their chances of reaching F1. Trident’s lack of F1 experience at the sharp end could be proving detrimental in keeping their F3 talents.
This highlights a missing opportunity for the team and may be the cause behind the loss of their F3 talent.
Clouds begin to ease early on as Van Hoepen delivers
Despite this, 2026 continues to prove fruitful with drivers Van Hoepen and Bennett continuing to deliver strong results.
Coming into 2026, Van Hoepen said he was just looking to do the “best I can” ahead of his first full season in the single-seater category having stepped up from two seasons in F3.
Speaking to Formula 2 ahead of the 2026 campaign the Dutchman claimed ” I‘m just looking forward to doing the best I can. After every session, coming back, saying I’ve done the maximum, I have gotten the maximum out the car. That’s the main target, to always be happy with the performance I have done.”
But, after a maiden Formula 2 podium in the opening rounds at Melbourne and Miami the expectations within Trident quickly shifted and began to mirror those seen in F3.
The Italian outfit secured more points in the opening two rounds than they had managed across the whole of 2025.
“We started almost from zero, I have to say. We looked at everything, possible mistakes that have done in the past.”
“As a group and as a team, we worked really hard together to get out from this situation. We’ve started the season in the right way.”
While the opening four rounds delivered 33 points for the Dutchman his teammate had to wait until Round 5 before he secured his first points of the season.
Bennett comes good in Austria to complete Trident turnaround
The confidence the British driver gained from this was clear.
Lining up on the front row for the Sprint race in Austria, Bennett produced a last gasp overtake for the race win. A blockbuster finish to a crazy race that handed the British driver his maiden victory and completed Trident’s comeback.
“This one is a big plus for us,” said Ricci to Formula 2. “I mean last year especially was a tough, tough season. We worked very hard this winter during the post-season tests last year and we definitely took a step forward.”
“The car is performing well, and so far every circuit we’ve been to, we’ve been competitive. It’s a massive step forward.”
A dominant force in the making?
With the halfway point reached, Trident find themselves in arguably their strongest ever position in both F2 and F3.
The F3 squad look set for a championship charge while the F2 team eyes a charge up the order.
The target now becomes keeping their Formula 3 champions and promoting them to the Formula 2 team for Trident.
Results will act as the main attraction for their young drivers as they climb up the junior single-seater pyramid. However, Formula 1 experience within the management hierarchy will also be crucial when building the attraction of their F2 team.
For now though, Trident’s impressive form in both F2 and F3 will be providing masses of confidence. This will prove invaluable as they head into the second half of the season.
