Beckmann was "in a deep hole" with Van Amersfoort
European Formula 3 driver David Beckmann says the reason he left Van Amersfoort Racing three rounds into the 2017 season was because he and the Dutch team were "in a deep hole".
Despite being too young to take part in the first three rounds of the 2016 F3 season, Beckmann was among the more impressive rookies, claiming a pole position and two podiums for Mucke Motorsport.
He joined Van Amersfoort Racing for his first full campaign in the series, setting himself the target of being in the top five by the end of the season.
However, the 17-year-old endured a dismal start to the year, failing to score a single point in the first three rounds at Silverstone, Monza and Pau, scoring a best finish of 11th.
Beckmann subsequently left the team after Pau to fill Motopark's vacant fourth car, and collected 20 points in his first round with his new team at the Hungaroring with a pair of fifth-place finishes.
When asked about why he left VAR, Beckmann told Motorsport.com it was a combination of constant struggles with the car and "difficult" communication with the team that drove his decision.
"With VAR, I was always struggling a lot many times in every corner," Beckmann said. "The car was actually the main problem, but also the communication was difficult.
"We were thinking 'what is the problem?' but they did not have the ultimate solution so we were in general struggling. We were in a deep hole and we couldn't get out quite fast [enough]."
Beckmann elaborated on his issues with the Van Amersfoort Racing car, claiming the rear was unstable, and that the team went in the wrong direction in pre-season testing.
"The biggest problem with my old team was that the rear was really unstable," he explained. "In testing, we went in a bit of a wrong direction because we already always had a problem with the rear.
"This changed now [at Motopark] - the rear is quite stable, but it is a bit too much [grip] at the front.
"We have to take the grip from the front and take it to the rear because I have no problems with the front and I think that is the fine-tuning [I need]."
Staying in F3 to prove himself
Beckmann admitted he had some offers from GP3 teams when he left VAR, but decided to stay in F3 so that people didn't think he "was running away" from the series.
"I had some offers from GP3 teams," he said. "But in my opinion when it really doesn't work and you go to GP3 you also don't know how that works, [it is a] completely new series.
"Firstly, it is very difficult, and second maybe some people think you are running away. I think it is important to change the team, stay in the series and show the others that I am a good driver."
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