How da Costa's resurgence could force Porsche to heed Jaguar's lesson

“When you lose, you actually should change into the loser [in the team] and shows everyone's character. I believe everyone seems to be pushing hard to assist me turn this around.

Just 10 months ago, with these words of Antonio Felix da Costa, one other article began, which was written in completely different circumstances than those through which the Portuguese driver currently finds himself.

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Meanwhile, da Costa didn’t rating in the primary three races of the 2024 Formula E season. Not only was he lacking in results in comparison with teammate and eventual champion Pascal Wehrlein, who recorded a win and two further points, but in addition a more worryingly direct pace.

Porsche management were so concerned that they organized a secret test for Abt driver Nico Muller, with the aim of probably replacing da Costa mid-season. Putting his place and future profession in Formula E on the road, da Costa found the shape to win the 2019-20 title. His 4 wins from five races within the second half of the 12 months are probably the most of any driver.

Even though he has not yet tasted victory, he continued his form from the previous season within the 2024–25 season, which couldn’t have began every other way than it did almost a 12 months ago. Da Costa finished second within the season opener in Sao Paulo and repeated the feat last weekend in Mexico.

It means the 33-year-old tops the drivers' standings for the primary time since his title-winning season, and with Porsche having one of the best package on the grid, at the least for now, da Costa could add a second championship to his CV.

Da Costa has been in excellent form this season, a stark contrast to last 12 months when his future seemed uncertain.

Photo: Joe Portlock / Motorsport Images

However, achieving this might mean beating Wehrlein in the identical automotive, something da Costa had didn’t do in his previous two seasons with Porsche. During this term, da Costa's role, especially last season, became increasingly certainly one of supporting his younger teammate, and at times in Mexico that dynamic looked as if it would proceed.

Da Costa acted diligently as a rear gunner early within the race ahead of leader Wehrlein after Porsche blocked the front row in Formula E. However, when the German used attack mode for the primary time, he rejoined da Costa's side. Both riders fastidiously stayed side by side on Peraltada's long right, and in the method da Costa was shuffled down, not helped by running a bit of deep into the primary corner.

For some time it looked like da Costa had wasted the rostrum, but he managed to get better along with his own attack mode activations and really led Wehrlein into the ultimate stages of the race. We won’t ever know whether the pair were free to fight for victory all of the solution to the flag, as a wonderfully timed safety automotive and stunning use of attack mode saw Nissan's Oliver Rowland clinch victory to the Porsche pair.

An even greater query is whether or not Porsche will determine to support certainly one of its drivers at an early stage or let him struggle

After the race, da Costa revealed that the one radio communication before the security automotive was “just watching the guys who were left in attack mode… we were just trying to deal with it and trying to build up that gap.” Given the small gap da Costa opened as much as Wehrlein within the closing laps as they finished second and third respectively, it's likely the order remained the identical even without the security automotive (barring any team orders).

Da Costa is definitely no stranger to going wheel-to-wheel along with his teammate, having joined DS Techeetah in 2019 alongside reigning and double champion Jean-Eric Vergne. Their relationship became strained at several points on and off the track, which was perhaps a usurpation considering Vergne ultimately didn’t match his latest teammate's performances as da Costa took the Frenchman's crown.

While the connection between Wehrlein and da Costa may be very different from the one mentioned above, after already spending two seasons together, that dynamic may soon change. After all, neither of them were competing for the title at the identical time.

An even greater query is whether or not Porsche will determine to support certainly one of its drivers at an early stage or let him struggle. It may very well be argued that Wehrlein is the favourite child resulting from his German citizenship – he won Porsche's first Formula E in Mexico in 2021 and can be the present champion.

Da Costa looked set to play as Wehrlein's winger within the early stages of the Mexican E-Prix before finding his way forward

Photo: Andrew Ferraro

And while that’s now up to now, the indisputable fact that Porsche actively sought to switch da Costa lower than a 12 months ago during his barren spell will certainly leave an enduring query mark on any intra-team battle.

The Porsche board just needs to have a look at last 12 months's Jaguar and the way the British marque, by allowing its drivers Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy to remove points, squandered the drivers' title although it ultimately won the teams' championship.

With Rowland proving to be something of a thorn in Porsche's side this season, he cannot afford to lose any points with the highest package, especially if Jaguar's latest post-Jeddah update also proves successful.

With 14 races left, there are still loads of twists and turns within the race for the Formula E title, but there's no denying that an in-form da Costa is someone the remaining of the sphere ought to be afraid of. Given how he has risen time and time again from adversity, there may be a great likelihood he’ll win a second title on the season finale in London in July.

Will Porsche determine to support the present points leader's bid for a second title?

Photo: Alastair Staley / Motorsport Images