Williams Driver Academy have confirmed the signing of 18 year-old Kean Nakamura-Berta ahead of the 2026 season. The Japanese-Slovakian driver arrives off the back of a highly successful year in single-seaters, having finished 3rd in the Formula Regional Middle East Championship (FRMEC) and claimed titles in both Italian F4 and the E4 Championship.
He joins a roster of highly talented drivers including Luke Browning, Victor Martins, Alessandro Giusti and Oleksandr Bondarev, all of whom have been competing in single-seaters over the past year. Nakamura-Berta’s success in the junior categories has been nothing short of impressive, marking him out as a talent to watch as he continues to climb through the ranks.
An impressive early run in single-seaters
The Japanese-Slovakian driver made his single-seater debut in 2023, competing in the F4 South East Asia Championship, where he claimed two pole positions and a podium finish during the season. He opened his 2024 campaign in F4 UAE, finishing 2nd in the standings with two victories and a further five podiums. However, his main focus that year laid in the Italian F4 and E4 Championships, where he placed 6th and 3rd respectively.
Aiming for higher, he returned in 2025 for a second season in both series. Ahead of his return, he contested in FRMEC, finishing 3rd overall with a win and nine podium-finishes. However, it was only during his Italian F4 and E4 campaigns that truly showcased his talent and speed, dominating the championship and securing both titles by significant margins.
Since his debut, Nakamura-Berta has yet to finish outside the top ten in a championship. As attention now turns to the upcoming season, the Japanese-Slovakian driver has confirmed his plans for the year ahead.
Nakamura-Berta set to join 2026 FRMEC and FREC grid
In 2026, the reigning Italian F4 and E4 Champion will step up to compete in both FRMEC and the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC). However, the team he will driver for this year remains unknown and is yet to be confirmed. In today’s announcement, Nakamura-Berta shared his excitement about joining the academy: “I’m very excited to be joining the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy this year,”
“It’s a team that has achieved so much and has a vast history, and I’m proud to be part of it. Racing in Formula Regional will be a new challenge but one that I’m especially looking forward to.”
“Thank you to everyone at Williams for believing in me, and I can’t wait to start this new chapter!”
Pleased to welcome the 18 year-old to their roster of young talents, Williams F1 Team’s Sporting Director Sven Smeets added: “We’re thrilled to have Kean join the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy at this key moment in his career.”
“He has shown a lot of promise, proving that he is capable of learning, adapting and ultimately winning championships. We look forward to working with him this year and will watch keenly as he hits the track.”
