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Antonio Felix da Costa Defends Jaguar Amidst Porsche Complaints
Highlights
- Da Costa defended Jaguar after London E-Prix finale controversy
- Porsche criticized Da Costa’s tactics; he called them hypocritical
- Intense rivalry escalated between Da Costa and Pascal Wehrlein
- No penalties were given despite aggressive driving incidents
- Da Costa used extra energy to overtake and block Wehrlein
- Season ended with fierce battles and strategic team decisions
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar after a combative London E-Prix finale, rejecting Porsche’s complaints about his tactics and insisting his driving stayed within Formula E’s regulations.
The dispute centers on battles with Pascal Wehrlein, as season-ending races escalate an already strained relationship between former teammates and expose the limits of permissible defensive driving.
Porsche also leveraged team strategy in qualifying, with supporting drivers yielding to aid Wehrlein, though Andretti did not contribute, as outlined in Wehrlein team orders coverage.
Nico Müller defended robustly across both races, including moves under braking and a brake check on Mitch Evans. Despite Evans’s complaints, stewards issued no penalties for these incidents.
Jaguar responded on Sunday with aligned tactics aimed at containing Wehrlein, mirroring Porsche’s approach once it became clear how aggressively Müller would defend track position.
No penalties were issued despite multiple complaints about aggressive defending.
Da Costa then used surplus energy to clear Evans, Müller, and Wehrlein before widening his car to defend. Wehrlein branded the driving unsporting and unfair over team radio.
Da Costa accepts the approach is not his preference, but argues Porsche triggered it first. He says Jaguar switched to plan B after observing Müller’s methods earlier in the event.
Jaguar switched to plan B after assessing Müller’s approach.
Context matters given their history. Contact already occurred in Tokyo, where Da Costa believes Wehrlein deliberately hit him while managing a damaged car, feeding the broader Formula E paddock feud.
“Treat others as you expect to be treated,” Da Costa says, calling Porsche’s stance contradictory.
He also contends Porsche’s post-race complaints are contradictory, invoking a simple standard: treat others as you expect to be treated. Crucially, the stewards found no rule breaches.
The regulatory line on defensive driving is tight. Moves under braking risk sanction if deemed reactive, but consistent lines and energy-based positioning fall within acceptable parameters, as seen in London.
The episode underlines how strategy and cooperation shape outcomes, not simply pace. It also arrives in a season marked by high-profile driver exits and reshuffles across the paddock.
As preparations begin for next season, both teams will refine playbooks. The London finale shows rivalries can dictate tactics, and tensions between Da Costa and Wehrlein are unlikely to cool.
Visual Summary
Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.
