Carlin’s Devlin DeFrancesco has withdrawn from the 2018 European Formula 3 Championship, as he switches his focus to the GP3 Series.

DeFrancesco joined Carlin in Euro F3 for the final two rounds of the 2017 season as a guest driver, after a title-winning campaign in Spanish F3.

Despite returning with Carlin at the start of this season, the 18-year-old made his GP3 debut at the third round of the year at the Red Bull Ring. He replaced Will Palmer.

Having withdrawn from the Euro F3 Norisring round, DeFrancesco was expected to return to F3 duties this weekend at Zandvoort.

Carlin confirmed on social media on Friday afternoon that “DeFrancesco will not be competing in any further rounds of the F3 championship as he chooses to focus on his GP3 programme.”

His best result during his four rounds of F3 was 12th place. He managed a best of 11th during the GP3 sprint race in Austria.

F3 replaces the GP3 Series under the governance of the FIA next season. On the F1 support bill alongside Formula 2, it will be run by Bruno Michel and is reportedly set to use the same engines and gearbox from the current Dallara-built GP3 car.

“After considering changes the F3 and GP3 series are taking for 2019, switching to GP3 seems like the best option for the future,” DeFrancesco said in a press release prior to his GP3 debut at the Red Bull Ring.