Fittipaldi replaces Beckmann at Charouz Racing System

Charouz Racing System have announced that Enzo Fittipaldi will replace David Beckmann at the Czech outfit, with the Brazilian 20-year-old stepping up from their Formula 3 team.

Fittipaldi will make his debut in the fifth round of the Formula 2 season at Monza, joining fellow Brazilian Guilherme Samaia.

The 20-year-old’s F3 departure was announced ahead of the third tier’s fifth round at Spa, following his highest scoring weekend of the season in Budapest, where he took a maiden podium in Race 2, as well as a further top 10 finish in Race 3.

The 2018 Italian Formula 4 Champion joins with plenty of single-seater experience, which includes third place in the 2018 ADAC F4 championship and second in the 2019 Formula Regional European campaign.

“I am extremely happy to be making my debut in the FIA Formula 2 championship,” said Fittipaldi. “I really want to thank Charouz Racing System and all my sponsors for this opportunity. We had a very solid first part of the F3 season together and I am looking forward to the next chapter.

“Monza will be my first time in an F2 car and I’m very excited! I will have a huge learning curve ahead with a 45 minute practice and then straight to qualifying but nonetheless, I can't wait to get in the car at Monza. The goal will be to gain as much experience as possible to get me more prepared for the last three F2 rounds.”

Beckmann departs with two podiums for Charouz, which were scored in the opening two rounds of the season. The German stepped up on the back of a title-challenging campaign in 2020, where he eventually finished sixth, with two wins and three further podiums.

“I’m sorry to leave Charouz Racing System for the end of the FIA Formula 2 season,” said Beckmann. “It’s not an easy choice, but I had to do it because it's the right thing. The financial situation has dramatically changed compared to the start of this project, but this doesn’t change the great work we did together.

“I want to thank all the team for the support and the experiences we lived together, especially in such a strange and complicated year like the one we are racing. I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the year.”

Charouz are currently ninth in the Teams’ Championship with 25 points.

Team Manager Bob Vavrik added: “We’re all very happy to welcome Enzo to the F2 squad. The plan was racing together for the 2022 season, with a winter training and testing program.

“Unfortunately, David had to shift his focus onto the family business in this difficult situation, which of course is sad news for us because he was doing a great job with us and we could have had a great second part of the season.

“Of course, we totally understand his choice and we respect this responsible decision. At this point, to promote Enzo in the Formula 2 program sounded like the cleverest and also natural choice.”