Opinion
Formula E
How da Costa's revival may force Porsche to heed a lesson from Jaguar
OPINION: Two runner-up finishes have given Antonio Felix da Costa the lead in the Formula E standings for the first time since his title-winning 2019-20 season. But that resurgence means Porsche might need to take note from mistakes made by Jaguar last season
Stefan Mackley
Published: Jan 15, 2025, 1:25 PM
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“When you lose that’s when you really need to become one [in the team] and it shows everybody’s character. I think everybody is pushing hard to help me turn this around.”
Just 10 months ago, those very words from Antonio Felix da Costa began another article that was written under very different circumstances than those the Portuguese driver currently finds himself.
At the time, da Costa had failed to score in the opening three races of the 2024 Formula E season. He lacked not only results compared with team-mate and eventual champion Pascal Wehrlein – who had registered a win and two further points finishes – but more worryingly outright pace.
Porsche management were so concerned that they organised a secret test for Abt driver Nico Muller, with a view to potentially replacing da Costa mid-season. With his seat and future Formula E career on the line, da Costa then found the form with which he won the 2019-20 title. His four wins from five races in the second half of the year were the most of any driver.
Despite not tasting victory so far, he has continued last season's form into the 2024-25 campaign, which could not have started more differently compared with nearly a year ago. Da Costa finished runner-up in the Sao Paulo season-opener and repeated that feat in Mexico City last weekend.
It means the 33-year-old sits top of the drivers’ standings for the first time since his title-winning season and with Porsche having the best package on the grid, at least for the moment, there’s every chance da Costa could add a second championship to his CV.
Da Costa has been in fine form this season, contrasting hugely with a year ago when his future appeared uncertain
Photo by: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images
But to do that would mean besting Wehrlein in the same car, something da Costa has failed to do in his two previous seasons at Porsche. During that tenure, da Costa’s role, especially last season, has increasingly been to support his younger team-mate and at times in Mexico, it looked like that dynamic was continuing.
Da Costa diligently acted as a rear gunner in the early stages to leader Wehrlein after Porsche locked out the front row, its first in Formula E. But when the German took his first Attack Mode, he rejoined alongside da Costa. The pair gingerly remained alongside each other through the long right of the Peraltada and in the process, da Costa was shuffled down the order, not helped by running slightly deep at Turn 1.
For a moment it looked like da Costa had squandered a podium, but he was able to recover through his own Attack Mode activations and actually headed Wehrlein into the final phase of the race. Whether the pair would have been allowed to freely battle for victory until the flag we’ll never know, as a perfectly timed safety car and stunning use of Attack Mode meant Nissan’s Oliver Rowland came through to snatch the win from the Porsche pairing.
An even bigger question is whether Porsche decides to back one of its drivers from an early stage or allow them to fight it out
After the race, da Costa revealed that the only radio communication prior to the safety car had been about “just keeping an eye on the guys who had Attack Mode left… we were just trying to manage that and trying to build that gap”. Given the small gap da Costa pulled on Wehrlein in the closing laps, as they finished second and third respectively, it’s likely the order would have remained the same even without the safety car (minus any team orders).
Da Costa is certainly no stranger in going wheel-to-wheel with his team-mate, having joined DS Techeetah in 2019 alongside reigning and double champion, Jean-Eric Vergne. Their relationship became fractious at several points on and off the track, perhaps usurpingly given Vergne ultimately failed to match the performances of his new team-mate as da Costa took the Frenchman’s crown.
While the relationship between Wehrlein and da Costa is very different to the one mentioned above, having already spent two seasons together, that dynamic could soon change. After all, neither have been in the title fight at the same time.
An even bigger question is whether Porsche decides to back one of its drivers from an early stage or allow them to fight it out. It could be argued that Wehrlein is something of a favourite child given his German nationality, having taken Porsche’s first win in Formula E at Mexico City in 2021, as well as being the reigning champion.
Da Costa had appeared set to play wingman for Wehrlein in the early stages of Mexico's E-Prix before finding his way ahead
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro
And although it is now in the past, the fact that Porsche was actively looking to replace da Costa less than a year ago during his barren spell is sure to leave a lingering question mark in any intra-team battle.
Porsche’s management also only needs to look at Jaguar last year and how by allowing its drivers Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy to take points off each other the British marque squandered the drivers’ title, even if it did ultimately win the teams’ championship.
With Rowland proving to be something of a thorn in the side of Porsche so far this season, it can ill-afford to drop any points while it has the best package, especially if a new update from Jaguar post-Jeddah also proves effective.
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With 14 races to go there are still plenty of twists and turns yet to come in the Formula E title race, but there’s no denying that an in-form da Costa is someone who should be feared by the rest of the grid. Given how he has bounced back from adversity time and time again, there’s every chance a second title could be his when the London season-finale takes place in July.
Will Porsche elect to throw its weight behind the current points leader's bid to claim a second title?
Photo by: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images
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