Formula Regional European champion Vesti gets Prema FIA F3 seat

The FIA called for the new Formula Regional Championship to bridge the gap between the various global F4 championships and FIA F3.

Seventeen-year-old Vesti scored 13 wins and 10 pole positions on his way to this year's title - also with Prema.

Prema dominated FIA F3 last year wrapping up the teams' championship with four races to spare, with its three drivers headed by Robert Shwartzman locking out the top three spots in the championship.

Vesti joins 2019 Carlin driver Logan Sargeant in Prema's '20 FIA F3 team and the duo joined the team for the post-season test at Valencia late last year.

"As drivers, we are all dreaming of signing with Prema," said Vesti. "I love the team and the team environment and the effort that is put into every single little detail.

"I feel so welcomed and so ready to pay back the team in 2020 for making my Formula Regional Championship happen."

Team principal Rene Rosin added: "We are looking forward to seeing Frederik race in the 2020 FIA Formula 3 Championship.

"We are coming from a dominant season in the series, and we know it won't be easy to do it all again next year.

"That said, Frederik had an equally outstanding season in Formula Regional and we were impressed by his performances at Valencia [post-season FIA F3 test] and Macau [non-championship F3 race].

"We are definitely excited to have him on board again. He is very talented and hard-working so I'm sure he will quickly become a key asset for the team."

ART Grand Prix has also confirmed two drivers for 2020, with SMP Racing-backed Alexander Smolyar and German F4 champion Theo Pourchaire joining the team.

Calan Williams has signed for Jenzer Motorsport, with the rest of the field yet to confirm driver line-ups.