Porsche officially announces the departure of António Félix da Costa

Unsurprisingly, António Félix da Costa will officially bid farewell to Porsche from September 20. A driver in the category since 2014 and 2019-2020 champion with DS Techeetah, the Portuguese joined the German team in 2023. The native of Cascais (Portugal) also distinguished himself in Endurance, notably thanks to his victory in LMP2 with Jota alongside Roberto González and Will Stevens during the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2022.

However, António Félix da Costa's relationship with Porsche has been tainted from the very beginning. The Portuguese's frustration actually dates back to October 2023 when Porsche asked him to focus fully on the Formula E. The driver therefore had to sacrifice the World Endurance Championship (WEC) while he had intended to continue the Jota team's customer program with a 963 from the German manufacturer. His departure is therefore likely motivated by his desire to dedicate himself again to the WEC but also by the tense climate within the team. While he is expected to join Jaguar in Formula E, the 34-year-old driver is also preparing to return to Endurance, possibly with Alpine.

During the last 24 Hours of Le Mans, da Costa confirmed his intention to return to the WEC Hypercar category in 2026. What is certain is that I want to come back, so I will have to be with a team that allows me to do so. " he deciphered. While rumors evoke the possible departures of Ferdinand Habsburg and Mick Schumacher, or even Paul-Loup Chatin, the team with the arrowed A would consider offering a seat to the Portuguese.

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Behind the scenes of a stormy collaboration between Porsche and da Costa

The first signs of unease within the team appeared at the 2023 Valencia test in Spain, when da Costa was forced to end his WEC program. The real rift occurred when Nico Müller was testing for Porsche in 2024, before the Swiss driver was yet an official driver for the brand. The relationship between the Portuguese driver and his employer continued to deteriorate when da Costa was disqualified after winning Misano, with the victory going to his teammate Pascal Wehrlein.

Despite his successes in Berlin, Shanghai and Portland, the former test pilot's frustration Red Bull en Formula 1 reached its peak when Wehrlein was selected to race the 2025 24 Hours of Le Mans for Porsche Penske Motorsport. Da Costa was allowed to drive in LMP2 Pro/Am at AF Corse alongside Frenchmen François Perrodo and Matthieu Vaxiviere, but his wish was to participate in the Le Mans classic in the premier class.

After three seasons punctuated by success and friction, the press release Porsche, however, recalled that "gThanks to these performances, da Costa played an important role in the three championship titles won by the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. " The Weissach firm also praised its record of four victories in 2024, " more than any other driver on the grid. » Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President of Porsche Motorsport, praised António Félix da Costa's commitment to the team and his instrumental role in Porsche's championship triumphs. After winning the title in London in July, Porsche reached the pinnacle of electric motorsport, thanks in part to António's performances. " noted the Chilean. Moments like his overtake in Cape Town and our first home victory in Berlin will remain etched in our memories and are part of Porsche's Formula E history. »

« During three very intense years with us, António has proven his class by winning five races at the wheel of the Porsche 99X Electric. He impressed all the team members, particularly with his driving talent, his ability to analyze the race and his ability to move up the field. " further stressed Florian Modlinger, director of the team. Diplomatic, António Félix da Costa said for his part that he was " glad it happened rather than sad it ended. » Nico Müller, now an official driver at Porsche and having raced for the Andretti customer team alongside Jake Dennis, is tipped as a likely replacement for the Portuguese despite some recent blunders. The Swiss knows Florian Modlinger well, with whom he collaborated during his time at Audi and Abt in DTM and Formula E.

ALSO READ > Da Costa to leave Porsche for Jaguar: Müller's time