Breaking news
F3 Macau GP
Da Costa: Late call-up makes second Macau win sweeter
Macau Grand Prix winner Antonio Felix da Costa says his late call-up to return to the famous Formula 3 event has made his second victory feel better than the first.
Jonathan Noble
Edited: Nov 20, 2016, 1:32 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The BMW factory driver only decided last month to return to Macau after being invited by Trevor Carlin, and had just two days of testing at the Red Bull Ring to prepare for his assault.
But after delivering a brilliant performance all weekend to take the triumph and follow up on his 2012 success, da Costa says the circumstances this time around have surpassed his previous achievement.
“Maybe it feels better I think,” he said. “I was not supposed to come. I am not meant to be here, I am not meant to race an F3 car – so none of this makes sense. It was a super late call.
“I did two days of testing only and we come here with a car that has not a single sponsor.
"Trevor called me up to come here and he said, ‘I will try to find a sponsor to pay you’ and I said: ‘It doesn’t matter. I love this race, I love this car and this track, I will come and do it.’”
Monteiro win added pressure
Da Costa said that he had been relaxed all weekend until race day, when he finally felt pressure to win – and things were not helped by his compatriot Tiago Monteiro triumphing in the TCR series finale.
“I was pretty chilled the whole weekend until today,” he said. “Today, I felt: ‘okay, I need to do it.’ It is the only time of the month that I put pressure on myself to do it.
“I woke up with a different feeling already and Tiago made my life super hard because he won. My Dad called me last night and said 'if the two of you win, it will be an historical thing'! The he [Tiago] wins – and I think ‘okay!’
“I know I have said all week that to come away with a top-five would be great, and it would have been. But today, I had to do it. I am so happy that I did it, and I have to thank my team – because they gave me the car to do it. I am just a happy boy.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Macau GP: Da Costa storms to main event victory
Next article Da Costa: Macau win does not resurrect F1 dream
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jonathan Noble
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
Formula 1
Formula 1
Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Formula 1
Formula 1
The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
Formula 1
Formula 1
Australian GP
Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress
More from
Antonio Felix da Costa
Cadillac signs Ricky Taylor, Antonio Felix da Costa in refreshed 2027 WEC line-up
WEC
WEC
Barcelona
Cadillac signs Ricky Taylor, Antonio Felix da Costa in refreshed 2027 WEC line-up
Alpine explains decision to drop Antonio Felix da Costa, Fred Makowiecki from Fuji WEC line-up
WEC
WEC
Fuji
Alpine explains decision to drop Antonio Felix da Costa, Fred Makowiecki from Fuji WEC line-up
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix II
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
More from
Carlin
The unconventional route taken by McLaren's new academy chief
Formula 1
Formula 1
The unconventional route taken by McLaren's new academy chief
Reigning GB3 champion Voisin makes F3 step with Rodin Carlin for 2024
FIA F3
FIA F3
Reigning GB3 champion Voisin makes F3 step with Rodin Carlin for 2024
Toyota protege Miyata signs for Carlin in maiden F2 campaign
FIA F2
FIA F2
Toyota protege Miyata signs for Carlin in maiden F2 campaign
Latest news
Supercars Gold Coast: Chaz Mostert dominates wet race for Walkinshaw Toyota
Supercars
SUPC Supercars
Gold Coast 500
28 min
Supercars Gold Coast: Chaz Mostert dominates wet race for Walkinshaw Toyota
Alex Marquez says overtaking Marc Marquez was “too risky” in Australian GP sprint
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
45 min
Alex Marquez says overtaking Marc Marquez was “too risky” in Australian GP sprint
Jorge Martin declared unfit for Australian GP after suffering fracture in sprint
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Jorge Martin declared unfit for Australian GP after suffering fracture in sprint
Raul Fernandez ruled out of Australian GP, adding to Phillip Island absences
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Raul Fernandez ruled out of Australian GP, adding to Phillip Island absences
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe