Trident closed out the 2025 F3 season with another Drivers’ Championship to their name, cementing their place among the series’ dominant outfits. Rafael Câmara’s title win followed those of Leonardo Fornaroli and Gabriel Bortoleto, giving the Italian team three successive crowns.
However, despite their individual success, Trident narrowly missed out on the Teams’ Championship. Campos Racing stole the glory at the Monza finale, leaving Trident with mixed feelings at the end of the year. Speaking after the season’s end, Team Manager Giacomo Ricci admitted he was proud of his drivers and engineers, but disappointment lingered over the missed double.
“I’m very pleased with what we were able to achieve this season,” recapped Ricci. “It’s the third Drivers’ title in a row, and this one for me is a great result, with Bortoleto, then the year after with Fornaroli and then with Câmara, it is a great achievement.”
“A bit disappointed that we have not been able to win the Teams’ title, but again when you come to Monza everything can happen with the tow, and with only one push lap in Qualifying. Things didn’t turn in our direction but it is what it is, it’s part of the game, although I’m still a little disappointed.”
Opening round the highlight of the season
Ricci pointed to Melbourne as the moment he knew the team had built something special. Câmara stormed to pole position and victory, with a Trident one-two confirming that their winter preparations had been spot-on.
“In my opinion, it was the first round of the season in Australia,” said Ricci when asked about his highlight of the season.
He explained that the limited pre-season running and the arrival of a new F3 car made the result all the more satisfying.
“When you don’t have that much track time before the season because we only had the pre-season test in Barcelona. Then you go in with a new car, with all the unknowns, because also in Barcelona, we were happy, but it was looking like many other teams were competitive. But once we arrived in Australia, it was different, and when we hit the ground, we were dominant. This in my opinion was the biggest highlight, at least from the team side. When you start from scratch, from zero, and the track time is so limited, to arrive there and to be immediately strong was quite impressive.”
Ricci praises engineers for 2025 F3 success
The dominant start was no accident. Ricci made clear that his engineers had done the groundwork that allowed Câmara to shine straight away.
“I mean I have to say a massive thanks to our engineers,” he continued. “They did a great job in the preparation of the new car, and since we hit the ground, the car was in the window.”
That foundation meant the team could approach each weekend with confidence, something Ricci was keen to emphasise.
“So the job that has been done was very good, and that’s why we have been able to be competitive immediately. To start the season in the right direction, winning the opening round with Câmara, and also being able to perform with the F3 car was a great feeling and again thanks to our engineers for this.”
Câmara’s drive to the Drivers’ Championship title
The statistics underline Trident’s competitiveness: five wins, five poles, eight fastest laps and ten podiums. Rafael ‘Rafa’ Câmara was central to that haul, delivering four wins, every pole position, and sealing the championship in Budapest with a round to spare. Ricci described the young Brazilian as a rare talent, with both raw speed and racecraft that set him apart.
“Rafa is a driver with very impressive talent,” said Ricci. “His natural ability to place a lap together without making a mistake is very rare in my opinion.”
The team worked to provide Câmara with a calm environment, and he responded with consistently strong performances. Ricci highlighted the Brazilian’s performance in Monza as a primary example.
“As a team, our main target was to get him in a comfort zone, and then he was able to perform in any condition or situation. For me, I was always impressed with his speed in Qualifying and also in the races, he was able to be complete as a driver. “Just taking Monza for example, he started last and finished P5, making so many overtakes, it was impressive, I have to say.”
Looking ahead to 2026
With another Drivers’ crown secured, Trident’s focus now shifts to 2026. The team has signed British rising star Freddie Slater and plans to continue developing its F3 car to remain competitive. Ricci stressed that the winter period would be about both technical progress and helping new drivers integrate smoothly.
“We will first focus on carrying on with the car development because you never stop on that side,” Ricci added. “Then we will start from zero with the drivers, so we will go back to the basics, making sure they are feeling comfortable with the team.”
He emphasised the importance of post-season testing, with Slater and the team needing to build mutual understanding from the start.
“We will provide them with the right instructions, and again, every year when there is a big driver change you start almost from zero and the postseason tests are extremely important because the driver needs to understand our philosophy.”
“They also need to understand how to work with the team and at the same time it will be the first time for us to start working with the new drivers. So it will be important for us to understand what they need and making sure they feel comfortable within the team in order for them to extract the best, from themselves and from the car.”
