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Porsche's Antonio Felix da Costa's Win in South Africa Tightens Formula E Championship

cape town street circuit, south africa february 25 antonio felix da costa, tag heuer porsche formula e teamwinner during the cape town eprix at cape town street circuit on saturday february 25, 2023, south africa photo by sam bagnall lat images
Da Costa Wins Historic Formula E Race at Cape TownSam Bagnall
  • António Félix da Costa won the first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in South Africa on Saturday.

  • Jean-Éric Vergne finished second with Nick Cassidy in third on a track delivering the fastest lap in Formula E history.

  • Points leader Pascal Wehrlein crashed out on the first lap, but left Cape Town with the championship lead after five of 16 rounds.


António Félix da Costa won the first ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race in Cape Town, South Africa, to claim his first win for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team thanks to a bold overtaking mov—executed not once but twice—to take the lead.

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After a slow start to his season, de Costa returned to form in the previous race in Hyderabad, India, with a third-place finish. But on a new track in Cape Town that saw Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz win the pole with the fastest lap in Formula E history at an average speed of 154.987 kmh (96.3 mph), Da Costa’s drive delivered the race victory.

The Porsche driver started in 11th but worked his way through the top 10 and into the top three by Lap 20. With the pack squeezed by a full-course caution on Lap 21, the top four cars were separated by 1.5 seconds. Envision Racing's Nick Cassidy led Sacha Fenestraz and Maximilian Günther (Maserati MSG Racing) through the first round of Attack Mode boost activations, going longer before opting for his initial 50 kW boost to take the lead.

cape town street circuit, south africa february 25 sacha fenestraz, nissan formula e team, nissan e 4orce 04 leads at the start during the cape town eprix at cape town street circuit on saturday february 25, 2023, south africa photo by carl bingham lat images
The all-electric cars of the ABB FIA Formula E Series raced in Cape Town, South Africa, for the first time on Saturday,Carl Bingham

On Lap 24, da Costa grabbed the lead from Cassidy at the trickiest part of the track—a tough Turn 7, 8 and 9 combination that had been the site of three crashes earlier in the weekend. The Season 6 champion went around the outside of Turn 7 and held his position inside at Turn 8.

Jean Eric Vergne took the lead a lap later, and the former teammates then fought to the flag. The gap was half-a-second with the full 30 laps down and just two laps added for the time lost to cautions.

On Lap 31, Da Costa then tried the same move he made on Cassidy from earlier in the race, this time on Vergne. Da Costa once again went around the outside of Turn 7 into 8 and 9 and on to a memorable race win under severe pressure from Vergne.

Cassidy finished third and René Rast (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team) steered to fourth after starting 10th. Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) took the flag in fifth. Dan Ticktum ensured NIO 333 Racing would score strongly again with a sixth-placed finish.

“For the first time I don't have a lot to say," da Coste said. "There was a lot of weight on my shoulders—thanks for the ones who have stuck with me and helped me get here. It has been a journey, it feels nice.

“I knew it was going to be a strategic one, I've done this race before where you have to give that lead away and really plan a late move in the race because the energy was playing a big part, and so following was a bit of an advantage. So I wanted to be behind (Vergne) for a few laps to build that energy advantage and use it, but I know leaving it late is always a risk and JEV is a very hard guy to overtake. I thought I was gone for a moment there in T9! But it’s good to race him on a day like this."

Standings leader Pascal Wehrlein ran into the back of Buemi’s Envision Racing car on Lap 1 resulting in an early exit. Wehrlein was still able to leave Cape Town with the points lead. Wehrlein has 80 points in the championship chase to Jake Dennis' 62. Vergne jumped to 50 points in third with da Costa now into fourth on 46.

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“I'm very happy for him (Da Costa), he did a fantastic race, very good move as well," da Costa said. "I am very happy with my race, second is good points - good for the championship. Well done to him, he used that to his advantage. But I am frustrated, of course.

“It was close, but there are some reasons today I am willing to take—and some not. I think in the view of the championship I am happy to take the second place points rather than a crash. I am a bit in-between, but at the end of the championship I am sure I am going to be happy with that race.”