The Milan-based outfit led by Maurizio Salvadori expands its racing structure, already active in the Formula Regional European Championship (FREC), Formula 3 and Formula 2, by also entering Formula 4 this season.
Trident Motorsport has made its debut in Italian F4, the entry-level category for single-seaters after karting, completing a pathway that now sees the Lombardy-based team involved across all key steps of the ladder towards Formula 1.
Salvadori: “A natural but demanding choice”
“It’s our first year in F4. I’ve always resisted the ‘fatal attraction’ of F4, but then we realised that, having FREC, F3 and F2, this was a necessary step. The work is going well for a first year. As in every category, there are small pitfalls: preparing the car requires experience.”
For its debut season, the team chose to focus on developing young drivers, fielding five rookies in one of the most competitive championships in the world.
“We’ve entered five cars with five rookies. I believe that already next year, with the results we’re achieving, we could have greater support from the drivers. We’ve won the last three F3 championships, two with rookies and one with Fornaroli in his second year: in the end, talent is what matters.”
Continuous development and research are key for the team in extracting maximum performance within the constraints of a one-make series.
“There are nights, days and weeks spent by engineers at the computers, as well as collaborations with external companies. Because the cars are all the same, there is a constant search not for a tenth, but for a hundredth of performance.”
Florentin Hattemer: growth and resilience
The Swiss driver is one of the most consistent rookies in Italian F4 overall and has already stepped onto the rookie podium on multiple occasions.
“I’m happy to be working with Trident. So far the season is going well, and I’ve also learned a lot about the car in the UAE series. In Italian F4 we’ve achieved good results. Within the team we have a good relationship: we are all different, but we work well together, staying united and keeping a positive atmosphere.”
His career has already been shaped by significant challenges:
“I started karting in 2023, racing in Switzerland and across Europe. In 2024 I competed in the OKJ European Championship and the World Championship.
At the end of the year I had a serious accident where I broke my legs. I dedicated 2025 entirely to recovery and preparation for F4, and now I’m here: things are going well. It’s been a long and difficult journey. It was also frustrating at times, because learning to walk again is not easy. But it was also a period spent with my family at home. A lot of work to walk again, and even more to get back to driving.”
Despite everything, his passion remains untouched:
“I’m happy to be here. Racing is my passion, and I enjoy every moment.”
Augustus Toniolo: from Brazil to European F4
A development season for the Brazilian driver, who is building his foundations in his first year in the championship.
“It’s an enjoyable season because it’s the sport I love, but also a difficult one. Coming from karting I still need to understand many things about the car, there is still work to do, but I really enjoy driving it.”
He speaks excellent Italian thanks to his years spent in Brescia as a child. Initially, however, his sporting dream was different:
“When I arrived, like many Brazilians, I started with football. I played for two years, but I didn’t enjoy it much. I tried other sports as well, but nothing really convinced me. Then one day I tried indoor karting and that’s where the passion began.”
Bernardo “Beco” Bernoldi: a family legacy
Among the Brazilian drivers in the team is the son of former Formula 1 driver Enrique Bernoldi.
“I come from Brazil, I was born in Florianópolis. I didn’t actually spend much time there: I moved to Paris before I turned one, then to the United States when I was about four or five. I started karting in California at 13. Then I moved to Europe to race in OK Senior and I think it went quite well. I learned a lot, and this year I’m in Italian F4.”
The connection with his father is a key asset:
“It’s great. I can learn a lot from him: he went through experiences that I’m going through now. It’s amazing to have him by my side, he helps me a lot and teaches me many things.”
Lyuboslav Ruykov: from challenge to passion
For the Sofia-based Bulgarian driver, everything started almost by chance.
“As a kid I wasn’t interested in motorsport. Then a friend beat me in rental karting and I started going more often because I couldn’t accept losing. And in the end, I loved it.”
The start of the season has been difficult, but the direction is positive:
“It’s been a tough start, but we are improving and we can do well. We have good pace and we can keep progressing until the end of the season.”
Dominik Simek: steady progress and endurance ambitions
From Prague, the driver completes the team line-up.
“I started karting when I was 11. Last year I competed in the European OK and KZ championships. So far it’s been a difficult start, but at Vallelunga we made good progress, scored points and showed we can fight for the top 10. We are a good group: we are all rookies and we try to learn from each other.”
Among his long-term goals is endurance racing:
“I would like to race the 24 Hours of Le Mans one day.”
The team now heads back to Vallelunga for its second event of the season at the Roman circuit, where the E4 Championship will get underway from July 3 to 5.