Antonio Felix da Costa experienced a refreshing level of honesty after hitting rock bottom in Riyadh earlier this year. At that time, he had failed to score any points in three races and was trailing his teammate Pascal Wehrlein by 57 points. Moreover, he hadn’t caught the attention of anyone in terms of performance. This worried not only the fans but also da Costa himself.
To make matters worse, Porsche decided to test a driver from another team, Nico Mueller from Abt, during the season. It seemed like da Costa’s relationship with Porsche was in jeopardy. While some at Porsche doubted his ability to turn things around, there were others who believed in him. His engineering team, led by Marius Meier-Diedrich and Alexander Lieschke, remained loyal and focused on finding solutions. It wasn’t an instant transformation, which makes da Costa’s current winning streak in Formula E even more satisfying.
In the past five races, da Costa has won four of them, reducing a massive 76-point deficit to just 33 points. With over 50 points up for grabs at the championship finale in London, he still has a chance to win the title.
“I have a special bond with Marius and my engineering crew,” da Costa explains. “Marius, especially, is very emotional, but sometimes it’s hard to get him to express his emotions. When we were struggling at the beginning of the year, he was brutally honest with me, and I appreciate that. It’s never pleasant to hear the truth, but it’s the only way to overcome a difficult situation. I don’t like it when people are dishonest. So, I have a lot of respect for what he and my entire crew, including my performance engineer Alex, have done for me. I haven’t turned things around on my own, and their unwavering belief has played a significant role.”
As always, da Costa’s words require some analysis. Meier-Diedrich once told da Costa that his performance in Portland, where he won two races, was the best weekend of his 15-year motorsport career. This kind of genuine appreciation means a lot to da Costa, just like his trophies and points.
But what does he mean by “brutally dishonest”? To fully understand the context, this comment will be included in the article. However, for now, all attention is on the upcoming race in London ExCeL. Da Costa hasn’t even entertained the thought of a miraculous comeback. Winning a second title is highly unlikely and would require misfortune for his competitors, including Nick Cassidy, Mitch Evans, and Wehrlein.
Although it’s unrealistic and hypothetical, if da Costa’s performance in the Portland double-header were replicated in London, he would become the champion with 184 points. Evans would be second with 178 points, Wehrlein third with 168 points, and Cassidy fourth with 167 points.
This raises the question of da Costa’s future. He is still undecided on whether he will race in the WEC, join another Formula E team, or fulfill the remaining year of his contract with Porsche.
After his victory in Portland, da Costa was overwhelmed with love for his team and the taste of success. He hadn’t even considered the possibility of a title surge in London.
“I don’t know yet, it’s all very fresh,” he said. “When I arrived in Portland this week, I thought I was just here to support Pascal. Even in today’s race, I was focused on helping Pascal, and I did my best. Give me a week, and I’ll be able to provide more insight.”
Da Costa, who enjoys water sports, often takes spontaneous dives or swims after his victories. However, he should refrain from jumping into the nearby Thames in London. Nevertheless, if anyone can achieve the seemingly impossible at the moment, it’s him.
