It was another stunning performance in Shanghai from TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa, to take his second victory in just three races. The Portuguese driver started in third place, but managed to fight his way to the front and stay there to achieve his 10th career victory in Formula E.
The Season 6 champ had great energy numbers over his on-track rivals at the front of the pack at the half-way stage, and after a move for the lead on Lap 16, he demonstrated the pace and performance from the Porsche to win.
It’s been a season of highs and lows for Da Costa, who failed to score any championship points in the first three rounds of the year. Rumours started to circulate that his Porsche seat was in danger for Season 11, but strong results in São Paulo, Tokyo and then a victory in Misano was sure to silence the doubters.
However, just hours after the chequered flag around the Italian circuit, his car was disqualified after the throttle damper spring was not found in conformity with one of three optional declared items. Porsche has lodged an appeal, and the case is still ongoing, but for now the result remains void for Da Costa and the team.
He bounced back earlier this month in Berlin, winning Round 10, and giving Porsche their first win on home soil in the all-electric championship.
“I love to come back swinging after tough times,” da Costa said after his win in China.
Following Saturday’s race where Da Costa finished in fifth, he was handed a five-second penalty for forcing DS PENSKE’s Jean-Eric Vergne off the track, which demoted him to out of the points.
“Yesterday sucked and how we lost those points at the end. But I am super happy to be able to perform my best today. The car was in such a good window. There was also a lot of management going on out there with the energy percents and with the temperatures as it's super hot today.”
Keeping cool in the heat, the Porsche driver was joined on the podium by Norman Nato. It was the first top three finish of the season for the Andretti driver, whose car is powered by the German manufacturers: “it’s great to have an Andretti car here as well on the podium, it shows that we're still the brand to beat.”
Speaking about how he seems to fight back when things seem to be going against him, he thanked the ‘right people’ around him.
“When the times get tough, the tough get going. That's really how I look at it.
“Everybody goes through tough times and luckily for me, my tough times are when a racing car is not performing well. You need to put everything in perspective and I'm such a lucky guy to call this my job.
“Today will be about celebrating on the flight at midnight back home. But good to have a couple of weeks off now before Portland and let's hope that we can keep this going until the end now!”