Antonio Félix da Costa of the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team has addressed a controversy that erupted following a high-profile collision with his teammate Pascal Wehrlein during the Berlin E-Prix weekend.
The incident, which unfolded during the first practice session on the long start-finish straight, saw the reigning World Champion give Wehrlein little room on track and the two cars came together, damaging both machines and raising red flags.
As consequence of the contact, the stewards applied a three-place grid drop and one penalty point to da Costa, further exposing what some observers labelled a growing strain in inter-team dialogue and fuelling speculation about his tenure with Porsche.
Yet, when questioned by Motorsport Week, the Portuguese driver firmly dismissed any talk of an exit, reiterating his long-standing loyalty to Formula E and stressing that his single focus remains on fighting for victory in the electric series.
“I am very, very much committed to Formula E. I’ve been here since the beginning,” he said, noting how he has contributed to rule changes, test initiatives and safety improvements since Season One.
While da Costa confirmed he will return for the next campaign, he did not specify whether he will stay with Porsche or move elsewhere, leaving fans and pundits to wonder which outfit will benefit from his proven speed and extensive technical feedback.
The incident involving da Costa and Wehrlein laid bare ongoing tensions inside the Tag Heuer Porsche garage and underscored Formula E’s fierce competitiveness, where even a seemingly minor clash can ripple through an entire campaign.
With the next season fast approaching, da Costas resolute remarks reaffirm his loyalty to the electric championship and assure fans they will witness yet another gripping chapter in his career.
STATISTICS
António Maria de Mello Breyner Félix da Costa (born 31 August 1991) is a Portuguese professional racing driver with the AG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. He is perhaps best known for winning the Macau Grand Prix invitational Formula Three race in 2012 and 2016, as well as the Formula Renault 2.0 Northern European Cup in 2009. He is the younger half-brother of Duarte Félix da Costa, also a racing driver, who primarily competes in sportscar racing. After progressing through various levels of the junior formulae motorsport ladder, Félix da Costa’s breakthrough year came during the 2012 season. Having started the season driving for the Carlin team in the GP3 Series, Félix da Costa was selected to join the Red Bull Junior Team, replacing Formula Renault 3.5 Series driver Lewis Williamson, who had failed to score a point in the first three meetings of the season. Félix da Costa assumed Williamson’s drive with the Arden Caterham team, where he ultimately won four of the final five races to be held in the campaign en route to fourth position in the final championship standings, just 23 points behind eventual champion Robin Frijns. Félix da Costa moved to the Arden Caterham team full-time for the 2013 season. Both Félix da Costa and Frijns received tests with the Red Bull Racing Formula One team for the Young Drivers’ test in Abu Dhabi – Félix da Costa’s second such appearance at the tests, after driving for Force India in 2010 – with Félix da Costa setting the pace on the second day. He completed the season with the first Portuguese victory in the Macau Grand Prix in 58 years, leading every racing lap of the meeting en route to victory. He currently wears jersey number 13. Current Season: 8 podium finishes, 3 race wins, 2 pole positions. Championship standings: 2nd place with 285 points. Best lap times: Sector records at 4 circuits. Career wins: 25 victories from 180 starts. Fastest lap awards: 12 career fastest laps. Team performance: Leading constructor’s championship.
