PREMA Racing announces that Kean Nakamura-Berta will continue his stint with the team for 2026, stepping up to the FIA Formula Regional European Championship.
The Japanese-Slovakian racer comes from an extremely successful campaign and has recently joined the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy, benefitting from solid support for the transition. In 2025, he claimed the Italian Formula 4 and E4 Championship titles and scored 15 wins including two in the F4 Middle East series early in the year.
Nakamura-Berta joined PREMA for the first time in 2023, and was among the first drivers to compete for the team's karting operation. Late in the same year, he switched to Formula 4 and was quick from the get-go, taking his first win in the 2024 F4 UAE Championship before finishing second in driver points. He later secured his maiden Italian F4 win and went on to win the Rookie Trophy in the E4 Championship.
After a dominant 2025 display, he started off his 2026 season with a bang, cruising to the Formula Regional Middle East Trophy title. He is now set for the start of a new era in European Formula Regional racing.
Stephen Mitas - Team Principal & CEO
“We are absolutely delighted to continue our partnership with Kean. Together, we have already enjoyed significant success, and it is only natural to build on that momentum as we enter a new era of the Formula Regional European Championship. His victory in the Middle East Trophy provided an excellent foundation, and we are confident in carrying that strong form into the European season. While we anticipate a highly competitive field, we believe we have a strong package in place, and Kean remains a key asset to our program.”
Kean Nakamura-Berta
"I’m really happy to be part of the PREMA family again for 2026, this time in the FIA FREC team. I’m also excited to have joined the Williams F1 Team Driver Academy and be representing their colours. The new year comes with new challenges, but I have a lot of trust in the team, and I can’t wait to start the season."