Antonio Felix da Costa has issued a warning to his Jaguar team that it cannot be complacent after taking back-to-back Formula E wins, with more than half of the season left to run.
The Portuguese driver took a superb victory, his second in as many races, at the inaugural Madrid E-Prix at Circuito del Jarama, leading a 1-2 for the British marque, to see both himself and teammate Mitch Evans cement their, as well as the team’s, title credentials.
Da Costa, starting fourth, utilised the Pit Boost and Attack Mode strategy superbly, and held off the challenge of Evans, who soared through the grid from 16th.
Despite the Kiwi’s displeasure at being denied the win, it was a result that eventually saw a friendly resolution, and the two friends shared the podium with smiles, with Evans now sitting third in the Drivers’ standings, one place behind da Costa, with the pair chasing Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein at the top, the German completing the podium in third place.
Da Costa has undoubtedly got the experience of being in title run-ins before, and has quickly settled into life at Jaguar, exceeding his personal expectations at already having two wins in the bank, to add to Evans’ in Miami.
And the 34-year-old told Motorsport Week after his Madrid triumph that he and the team should savour its 1-2 success [a rarity in Formula E], but said he would personally ensure the team would not “sit back and relax” with over half the season left to run.
“When you’re employed by a team that has won as much as these guys have, this is always where the bar is, right? I just wasn’t sure how long it was going to take us to get there,” he said.
“Happy that we could do two in a row. I mean, that doesn’t happen very often in Formula E. A 1-2 for a team doesn’t happen very often in Formula E. So we’ll enjoy these moments.”
“We’ll keep working hard. I’ll make sure that I don’t want anybody to sit back and relax. But equally, these moments have to be enjoyed.
“And I guarantee you we’ll have bad days until the end of the year. And that’s where we need to stick together as a team.”
What Motorsport Week thinks – can Jaguar commence another assault on FE titles?
Formula E provides twists and turns at most junctures – it’s the nature of the championship. But Jaguar is, without a doubt, in a far better place than it was 12 months ago in terms of competitiveness, and therefore far better positioned to challenge for honours.
So far, it has been competitive on virtually every kind of circuit the championship offers currently, and with the Porsche team also looking strong, another Battle Royale looks set to take place.
No Jaguar driver has ever won the Drivers’ title, so can da Costa’s title-winning nous be the difference this year, whether it is for his second World Championship or for Evans, who will be looking to finally break his title duck after years of being the proverbial bridesmaid?
READ MORE – Antonio Felix da Costa issues rational verdict on vexed Jaguar Madrid E-Prix aftermath
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