Antonio Felix da Costa, the winner of the second race at the Tempelhof circuit, expressed his thoughts on the unique nature of Formula E races. He clarified that when he referred to «real drivers,» he was not insinuating that the fastest driver always wins. Instead, he highlighted the abundance of side-by-side racing, overtaking, defensive driving, and overall excitement in Formula E. He contrasted this with his experiences in other racing series, such as Formula 1 and WEC, where drivers often maintain their positions throughout the race. Da Costa drew a comparison between Formula E and Moto3 races, noting the presence of slipstreaming and occasional contact. He also emphasized the importance of managing relationships with other drivers, as their interactions on the track can influence future encounters. Da Costa shared an example of a situation with Rowland in Tokyo, where he complained about being pushed towards the wall, but then retaliated in Monaco. This exchange exemplifies the give-and-take dynamic that exists in Formula E races.
The weekend in Berlin evoked several emotions reminiscent of the race weekend in Misano, where several drivers expressed their opinions about the field. Jean-Eric Vergne even threatened to leave FE if this continues. When asked about the possibility of establishing a FE Drivers’ Association, similar to its counterpart in F1, da Costa replied: «Maybe [yes].
«In racing, my biggest concern and priority are the fans. If they can say, ‘Wow, what an incredible spectacle, we were on the edge of our seats,’ then that’s perfect. Fans have the power to make or break a series or sport.
«It’s no longer about my personal pleasure of driving this car or racing. If we can provide them with the show they desire, then that’s perfect.
«Testemunhamos corridas longas e curtas todos os fins de semana, e eu concordo que as corridas curtas equilibram melhor a economia de energia e as corridas em pelotão. Há ajustes e melhorias a serem feitos, e a Fórmula E reconhece isso. Ao realizar dois tipos diferentes de corridas, eles estão experimentando para determinar o caminho a seguir. É encorajador ver que a Fórmula E e a FIA abordam esse assunto com mente aberta.
«Para mim, é agradável ter uma mistura.
«Temos uma variedade de corridas, como México, Arábia Saudita, Mônaco e Londres, e sabemos que as corridas em pelotão são mais focadas em energia e estratégia. Seria ideal ter uma temporada que incorpore ambos os elementos. Se é 70% de um e 30% do outro, ou uma divisão de 50-50, não é minha decisão. Devemos ouvir os fãs e garantir sua satisfação.»
