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Here we are: the final four. It’s been an intense season, but it’s coming to a close this weekend and only one can leave London as the champion. For TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa, it’s been the comeback of all comebacks to be in this position, fighting for another title, and he’s ready to get the job done.
The Season 10 Championship Contenders: #5 Oliver Rowland
The Season 10 Championship Contenders: #6 Jean-Eric Vergne
The Season 10 Championship Contenders: #7 Jake Dennis
We all know da Costa is made of strong stuff, that has been evident since he made his Formula E debut at the 2014 Putrajaya E-Prix, but this year has seen it taken to another level. From questions over his future, to recently winning three races back-to-back to throw himself back into championship contention, this is how da Costa’s Season 10 unfolded.
Tough start to the season
The year started with a determined da Costa, keen to bounce back from a tricky Season 9 where he finished ninth in the Drivers’ standings in his first season with Porsche. Last year, there was the incredible victory in Cape Town, and podiums in Hyderabad and Portland, but his teammate Pascal Wehrlein was the one fighting for the championship up ahead.
However, things didn’t go to plan. The first race in Mexico City saw Wehrlein achieve the Julius Baer Pole Position and go on to win, whereas Antonio made contact with ABT CUPRA’s Nico Mueller early on and retired with suspension damage. He was also handed a three-place grid-penalty for the next race for his involvement in the incident.
RESULTS: See the full standings for the 2023/24 Drivers' World Championship
Diriyah came next, and two chances to turn his fortune around over the double-header. Yet, it was once again a case of no points in either event. On the Friday, da Costa started 20th and moved up to 16th by the end of the race, with the next day seeing him qualify 21st and finishing 14th.
“I don’t know who I am when I’m not quick, when I’m not performing,” da Costa is quoted as saying to The Race after the Saudi rounds came to a close. “I’ve never been here before. I don’t know what’s going wrong. I’ve had hard moments before in my life, and I could always have an explanation for them. But this weekend, I feel like it’s a new low for me. It’s a difficult moment and I cannot really explain it all.”
By São Paulo, the Portuguese racer was able to break into the points with a sixth place to his name. Then at Formula E’s first race in Tokyo, he just missed out on a podium spot and was the highest-scoring Porsche. Things looked on the up, until a bombshell rumour dropped in the paddock.
Dealing with an uncertain future
Just days after a season-best result in Japan, a rumour started to swirl that Porsche could be looking for a new driver after da Costa’s challenging start to the season. It was suggested that the German giants had tested Nico Mueller, alongside several other drivers, during the break between Diriyah and São Paulo. If there was a time to pull something amazing out of the bag, this was it. So, the former champion did exactly that.
Despite starting 13th on the grid for the first race in Misano, da Costa used his experience and energy-efficient Porsche powertrain to ascend up the order during the race. Battling the rest of the grid whilst audiences witnessed an unbelievable 544 overtakes, he kept himself in a great position and two percent up on his nearest rival Oliver Rowland in the final stages.
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He crossed the finish line first, earning his ninth win in Formula E, and pleaded with the team on the radio to “please stay with me” before jumping in a nearby swimming pool to celebrate. It was the story of the season so far, with da Costa also being the sixth different winner in six races, until there was another twist: disqualification.
Misery in Misano
Hours after the race was finished, the FIA decision document stated the throttle damper spring on his Porsche was not found in conformity with one of three optional declared items.
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"The competitor is responsible for the conformity of the car and even if there is no performance advantage the car has to comply with the Regulations (Article 1.3.3 of the International Sporting Code),” the FIA stated. Even though Porsche appealed, they lost and the win was handed to Nissan’s Oliver Rowland.
Sunday’s Misano race saw teammate Pascal Wehrlein take the win – his second of the season – whereas da Costa started at the very back and would finish 17th. It was an impossibly difficult weekend for the fan favourite driver, but the comeback would start to bubble away when we visited Monaco.
The principality has been home to many memorable moments for da Costa over the years, including his iconic win in Season 7. He was able to bank a decent set of points when he finished in seventh in Monte Carlo, and would do one place better at the next race in Berlin.
DAC is BACK
The Berlin Tempelhof Airport is a location that da Costa, and many of our drivers know very well. Not only is it the most popular venue in our championship’s history, but it’s where Antonio Felix da Costa lifted his only championship trophy.
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Starting in 10th for Round 10, da Costa led early on through the initial batch of ATTACK MODE activations, with the Porsches running two-by-two and working together for much of the opening half of the race despite pressure from the Jaguars. Although Mitch Evans in his Jaguar managed to push ahead later on in the race, da Costa made a move late on the brakes into the hairpin forcing the New Zealander into outbraking himself wide. From there he was able to achieve a second's gap out-front and give Porsche their first-ever home win in Formula E.
The 32-year-old also entered the record books as the first driver to win the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit on three separate occasions.
“It feels awesome,” the Portuguese pilot said after the victory. “Racing for a German team and winning on German soil is amazing.”
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However, he wasn’t done there. Next time out in Shanghai, he finished in fifth but received a penalty for contact with DS PENSKE Jean-Eric Vergne, which pushed him out of the points. Nevertheless, he came back strong and once again lifted the first place trophy. Starting in third, he managed a stunning performance to get himself on the top step of the podium for the second time in three races. “I love to come back swinging after tough times,” he beamed.
Three in a row
It was almost like there was something in the water, as da Costa did the double in Portland too. Winning both events across the US doubleheader on days when championship leader Nick Cassidy failed to score any points was huge for his championship title chances, and boosted him up to fourth in the standings. It was the first time we have seen one individual win three races consecutively since the Porsche driver did the same on his way to his championship in Season 6.
With the momentum behind him, and if it continues into London, there’s a genuine chance we could see Antonio Felix da Costa have the turnaround of all turnarounds to win the Drivers’ World Championship this season. He might be on 134 points, with his nearest competition being Evans and Wehrlein tied on 155 and Cassidy on 167, but we’ve seen stranger things happen in a Formula E season finale!
TICKETS: Come and join us to crown a champion in London!
Be sure to tune back each day to read more about each of the seven drivers who are fighting for the Drivers’ World Championship in London next week.