Behind the Race: Da Costa reigns supreme
Antonio Felix da Costa reigned supreme in the first two races of Formula E’s return in Berlin as his nearest title rivals had their championship hopes torn apart.

The electric paddock reconvened after a 158-day coronavirus hiatus for a brace of races on the reversed Tempelhof Airport circuit ahead of what was expected to be a wide-open title fight. But it no longer looks like the crown will go down to the last race of the season.
Instead, da Costa guided his DS Techeetah car to two consummate victories, as he dictated the pace on his own terms - much to the frustration of team-mate and defending champion Jean-Eric Vergne.
In the latest episode of Behind the Race from ThEVox, Autosport's Formula E correspondent Matt Kew is joined by Italian racer Michela Cerutti to discuss how it all came together so smoothly for da Costa and if there is any hope of him being beaten to the championship spoils.
Da Costa bagged two pole positions and two wins to extend his standings lead from a solid 11-point advantage up to a mighty 68, with only 120 points on offer from the final four races.
This all happened as intra-team angst once again reared its head, this time coming from Vergne over team radio as he felt aggrieved that da Costa was seemingly ignoring pre-agreed team orders to work together to save energy and tyre.
Vergne’s annoyance would creep into race two also, meaning he would achieve a best result of only 10th place to drop from eighth in the points down to a distant 12th.
Jaguar driver Mitch Evans - closest to da Costa in the championship table prior to the restart - was also down on his luck, struggling to explain the disappearance of his car’s previously stellar race pace.
That afforded an opportunity for series newcomers Mercedes and a rejuvenated Audi attack to climb the order courtesy of Stoffel Vandoorne and Lucas di Grassi respectively.

Previous article
Vergne laments "nightmare" Berlin FE race after power cut
Next article
How an open title fight was defused in just two races

About this article
Series | Formula E |
Behind the Race: Da Costa reigns supreme
The eight major plotlines to watch in Formula E 2021
The delayed 2020-21 Formula E season gets underway this week with a double-header in Saudi Arabia. The testing times were too close to call a favourite, but that's not the only area of interest to follow as the championship enters a crucial year
Why Formula E's 2021 season will be a crucial litmus test
As off-track politics threatens to overshadow events on it, the upcoming Formula E season is perhaps its most important since the championship's inception. And that's a shame, given that the focus should be on what promises to be its closest title fight yet.
How Mercedes and Porsche can avoid a difficult second FE album
Mercedes and Porsche compete to win and have done so across the board: in Formula 1, sportscars, the Dakar Rally and endurance road races - even working together to break land speed records. Next in the crosshairs is the Formula E teams' championship crown.
What Formula E must do for McLaren to act on its attraction
News that McLaren is formally considering a Formula E move is a much-needed boost for a series that took some punches at the end of 2020. But to allay any doubts that Zak Brown may have, FE must take action on its biggest potential stumbling block
Why BMW and Audi have pulled the plug on Formula E
BMW and Audi shocked the Formula E fraternity by announcing their departures at the end of the 2020-21 season. Overnight, the championship has been dealt something of a "wake-up call" - including questions about its relevance to manufacturers.
What we learned from Formula E's Valencia test
There was no shortage of intrigue surrounding Formula E's pre-season test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, dominated by talk of Audi's impending exit. But it still served to whet appetites for the start of another competitive season in January
The logic behind Audi’s surprise change of course
OPINION: Audi announcing its imminent Formula E departure on the eve of its first season with world championship status might come as something of a shock. But while it doesn't equate to a rejection of VW's electrification push, there is reason to it...
How Formula E's pre-season test venue provides confusion and clarity
The Formula E grid heads to Valencia's Circuit Ricardo Tormo for pre-season testing and the track, minus the controversial chicane, leaves the circuit unrepresentative to the series' familiar street layouts but could still be a proving ground for multiple reasons.