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Antonio Felix da Costa’s Remarkable Turnaround in Formula E
“When you lose, that’s when you truly need to come together as a team, and it reveals everyone’s character. I believe everyone is pushing hard to help me make this turnaround,” reflects Antonio Felix da Costa. Just ten months prior, these sentiments marked a challenging period for the Portuguese driver, who is now seeing a significant shift in his fortunes.
Last season, da Costa faced a tough start, failing to score points in the first three races of the 2024 Formula E season. In stark contrast to his teammate Pascal Wehrlein, who had achieved a win and two additional point finishes, da Costa was struggling with both his results and apparent speed. This alarming performance led Porsche management to consider bringing in Abt driver Nico Muller as a potential replacement.
However, da Costa managed a remarkable turnaround, rediscovering the form that earned him the 2019-20 championship. He secured four wins in the final five races of that season, showcasing his resilience and skill. Fast forward to the 2024-25 campaign, and da Costa is demonstrating strong performance, having finished runner-up in both the São Paulo season-opener and the recent race in Mexico City.
At 33 years old, he currently leads the drivers’ standings for the first time since becoming a champion, bolstered by what appears to be the most competitive Porsche package on the grid. This presents a promising opportunity for da Costa to potentially clinch a second championship.
From Uncertain Future to Formidable Contender
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Achieving this feat, however, would require outperforming Wehrlein in the same car—a challenge da Costa has not conquered in his two preceding seasons with Porsche. His role has often shifted towards supporting his younger teammate, and recent races have hinted that this dynamic may continue. In Mexico, da Costa played a crucial role in the early stages, ensuring that Wehrlein maintained his lead during the race’s opening laps after Porsche secured a front-row lockout.
As the race unfolded, a well-timed Attack Mode deployment brought Wehrlein alongside da Costa, inadvertently shuffling da Costa down in the order. Fortunately, he managed to recover thanks to strategic Attack Mode activations, even overtaking Wehrlein during the final laps, showcasing his determination.
Despite this, the thrill of a potential battle for victory was cut short by a safety car and an impressive move from Nissan’s Oliver Rowland, who capitalized on the situation to snatch the win.
Post-race, da Costa revealed that the communication between him and the team revolved around managing resources rather than explicitly establishing team orders. Given the performance he displayed, it’s plausible that the finishing positions would have remained unchanged even without the safety car intervention.
Da Costa is familiar with the challenges of competing against a teammate. His time at DS Techeetah started alongside reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne, where the competitive tension often led to a turbulent relationship, especially as Da Costa outperformed Vergne and claimed the championship.
While Da Costa’s rapport with Wehrlein has been more amicable, the competitive dynamics could shift as both drivers find themselves in contention for the title. There is speculation surrounding Porsche’s strategies: will they support a single driver early on or allow both to compete? Wehrlein’s past success and German nationality may place him in a favored position, as he secured Porsche’s first Formula E victory in Mexico City back in 2021.
Navigating Intra-team Competition
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Moreover, the specter of da Costa’s past struggles, including management’s consideration of a replacement less than a year ago, looms over any intra-team battles. Porsche would do well to reflect on the prior season involving Jaguar, where allowing drivers like Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy to compete freely ultimately cost them the driver’s title, despite their team championship win.
As the season progresses, with 14 races still to go, questions about team strategy are increasingly pertinent. An assertive da Costa poses a significant threat to the competition, and his ability to rebound from adversity suggests that he may indeed secure a second title when the season concludes in London in July.
The Strategic Dilemma Ahead for Porsche
Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images
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