Trident names first F3 signing for 2020
The Trident FIA Formula 3 team has signed 2018 German F4 champion Lirim Zendeli as its first driver for the 2020 season.
German driver Zendeli, 20, drove for the Sauber Junior Team (now Charouz Racing) last year, and finished in 18th place in the championship. He was one place behind his highest-placed teammate, the DTM-bound Fabio Scherer.
Zendeli took a best finish of seventh at the Red Bull Ring last season.
Now signing with the Trident team that took Pedro Piquet to fifth in the standings and scored fourth in the teams’ championship, Zendeli is confident of success.
“I am super delighted to announce that I will go racing in FIA Formula 3 with Trident in 2020,” said Zendeli.
“After testing with the team in Valencia it was totally clear to me that I really would like to take my career on to another level with this traditional and experienced team.
“I am convinced that we can achieve many very good results and I’ll give everything to bring some trophies to the teams headquarter in Milano.”
Trident team owner Maurizio Salvadori added: “Last year we watched Zendeli with great attention in the Formula 3 championship and even though he didn’t get particularly important results, his skills impressed us.
“I am delighted of having him in the 2020 Team Trident line-up. I am sure he will be among the leading drivers, and that he will become one of the stars of the season.
“He has already driven a Team Trident car in last October’s post-season test at Valencia. Even if he was with us for only one day, we appreciated his driving talent, his sensible attitude and his absolute professionalism.”
2020 FIA F3 grid so far:
| Team | Drivers |
|---|---|
| Prema Racing |
|
| ART Grand Prix |
|
| Trident |
|
| HWA |
|
| Jenzer Motorsport |  Calan Williams |
Alexander Smolyar
Theo Pourchaire
Lirim Zendeli
Jake Hughes
Enzo Fittipaldi
Doohan, Fittipaldi secure HWA F3 seats
Newest Renault junior completes Prema F3 line-up
How the ultra-tight F3 title fight is taking shape
With just five points separating the top five after two rounds, FIA Formula 3 looks set for another thrilling season in 2022. But who stands the best chance of pulling away from that pack, and who are the contenders bubbling under?
Gregoire Saucy: How an outsider demolished a rank of F1 juniors
His career has been a slowburner but Gregoire Saucy trounced a collection of F1 juniors in Formula Regional by Alpine last year, and now he’s preparing to do it again in FIA F3. Here’s how the Swiss caught the world by surprise in 2021 and how he plans to do it all over again.
The hardships that haven’t dented Logan Sargeant's F1 dream
Faced with “no options” for 2021, Logan Sargeant’s Formula 1 dream looked set to crumble. But a last-minute Formula 3 seat and a strong season secured him a Formula 2 drive for 2022. He told Motorsport.com how his transformative season affected both his personality and his future.
From zero to hero: How F3's 2021 champion bounced back
After a disastrous 2020 in FIA Formula 3 with Hitech, Dennis Hauger began to doubt himself - with the self-belief he had built through success in junior series evaporating. But after regrouping, he stormed to the F3 title in 2021. Here’s how he did it...
How Campos Racing has bounced back from its devastating loss
After the sudden death of its founder in January, Formula 2 stalwart Campos Racing was left facing its hardest season to date. But new team boss Adrian Jr is determined to honour his father’s legacy and has returned the team to its winning ways
How F2 and F3's flawed format changes could prove shortlived
After a chaotic 2020, marred by the coronavirus pandemic, the FIA brought in radical changes to Formula 2 and 3. But less than 12 months later, there are talks of them being reversed after all did not go to plan…
How the latest 'son of' youngster found his feet in F3
After a promising start to his single-seater racing career, life in the Formula 1 feeder series gave Jack Doohan a reality check. But, following a year of learning and toiling, the driver with one of the most famous surnames on the Formula 3 grid isn’t feeling the weight of expectation pushing down too hard on him any longer
The Monaco win that started another triple crown
30 years ago, victory in the Monaco Grand Prix-supporting Formula 3 race – then a showpiece invitational event – began a young Jorg Muller’s pursuit of a unique set of street circuit wins that he’d later complete at Macau and Pau.