David Beckmann and Lirim Zendeli from Germany return to Formula 2 – Zendeli steps in for Oliver Caldwell, Beckmann drives the rest of the season
Germany will be back in Formula 2 for the final four race weekends in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Arab Emirates. While Lirim Zendeli from Bochum will only stand in for the suspended Oliver Caldwell at Spa-Francorchamps, David Beckmann from Iserlohn will contest the rest of the season with van Amersfoort.
Beckmann had not been offered a Formula 2 cockpit for the 2022 season and took on the role of simulator and reserve driver with Andretti’s Formula E team. However, he was already back in a Formula 2 car at Imola to replace the injured Cem Bölükbasi at Charouz. He scored points straight away with an eighth place in the main race.
Beckmann made his second Formula 2 appearance at Silverstone, where he filled in for the suspended Aumery Cordeel at van Amersfoort. In France and Hungary, the Iserlohn native then replaced Jake Hughes, who tested positive for the corona virus. This means Beckmann already has four appearances as a jumper in the 2022 season.
Now the team has announced that Beckmann will jump into the cockpit of Hughes for the last four race weekends of the current championship, who in turn will concentrate on his career in Formula E. The Briton was most recently the reserve driver. The Briton was last active as a reserve driver for Mercedes, but the brand pulled the plug and sold the team to McLaren. Beckmann is using this opportunity to draw attention to himself once again.
“I thank van Amersfoort for the team believing in me and allowing me to contest the last four events of the Formula 2 championship,” he wrote on social media. “We start in Spa, where I have good memories.” Beckmann won the main race in Belgium in 2018 with Trident, plus a third-place finish in Formula 3 from 2020.
While Beckmann will contest eight races in total, Zendeli will make two appearances in one race weekend. Caldwell has filled up the twelve penalty points in Hungary and therefore has to sit out. The driver from Bochum will step in and contest both the sprint and the main race in Spa. For Zendeli, it will be his first appearance as a substitute in the 2022 season.
Zendeli also has fond memories of Spa-Francorchamps, where he took his only victory to date in the main race in Formula 3 in 2020. “It’s finally out,” writes the German with Albanian roots. “I’m really looking forward to the weekend and I can’t wait to jump back in the car to race in a Formula 2 car at one of my absolute favourite tracks. Thank you Campos and Olli for the confidence. “