On Friday 19th September, Tag Heuer Porsche announced the departure of António Félix da Costa. After three fruitful seasons with the team, the Portuguese driver is set to move on.
His time at Porsche leaves behind an impressive record: 5 wins. 27 podiums. 8 pole positions – a clear sign of the impact he made on the team.
Da Costa Leaves His Mark
Joining the team in 2023, da Costa quickly established himself in the driver line-up – becoming a huge part of their success. The mutual respect and enthusiasm surrounding da Costa’s move to Porsche was prominent, with the Vice President of Porsche stating,
“I’m delighted that Antonio is coming on board. He has an incredible skill set as a racing driver and has demonstrated many times that he’s a winner.”’ – Thomas Laudenbach
First Win to Last Point!
Joining the team for the Gen3 Era, da Costa’s first season was one that was hard for him to navigate. But in round 5 of season 9, he delivered a breakthrough – his first win for Porsche, which also marked their maiden victory in Cape Town. Consistency quickly became an issue as da Costa was finding it difficult to adjust to the new car and new team. Though he wasn’t in the battle for a championship, he secured 93 points and hopes for his next season.
Despite an uneasy start, Season 10 was more promising for the Portuguese driver. A special moment was shared between the team during the Misano E-Prix, where da Costa begged the team to ‘stay with me’ amidst rumours that they were looking elsewhere for a consistent driver.
Momentum Lost, Future Found?
That turning point mattered: towards the end of the season, da Costa found his stride, picking up three back-to-back wins. Antonio ended Season 10 with 4 podium appearances and 134 points in the bag.
It was apparent that Season 10 had restored some confidence in da Costa. Starting the season off with back-to-back podiums, we saw why consistency maximises a team’s opportunity in winning the championship. He ended his last season with the German Racing team with 111 points and 4 podiums.
He drove with passion, experience and a determined attitude – all attributes that will now serve him elsewhere. With 8 seats to be confirmed, paddock noise suggests that da Costa will be joining Jaguar TCS Racing for Season 12.
What Does This Mean for Porsche?
It is no secret how strong Porsche are – a team full of dominance and consistency. Season 11’s season finale in London crowned Porsche Constructors Champions.
Could there be risks for Porsche achieving these championships with an experienced driver leaving the team? Pascal Wehrlein was challenged in the three years that they were teammates.
Rivalry That Shaped a Team
While Porsche were in an intense battle against other teams to secure their Championship, an equally intense battle was occurring within the team. What started off as a partnership slowly became an unspoken rivalry.
Wehrlein asserted his authority early on — with more experience in the Porsche seat, he delivered back-to-back victories early in da Costa’s first season. His style of driving — minimal errors, smooth laps — was ideal for engineers and the team. But when paired with a driver like da Costa, who races on instinct, Porsche had to balance strategy carefully. What happens when one driver plays by the book while the other challenges every convention?
Bold. Aggressive. Da Costa’s victories always drew attention. While his results were a mix of highs and lows, he was known for headline wins. His flashes of brilliance — reigniting championship competition, delivering under pressure, ending his winning drought — helped Porsche maintain dominance.
The Seat Left Behind
Season 10 became the defining moment in their dynamic. Team orders in São Paulo and Berlin often favoured Wehrlein, leaving da Costa to adapt and play the team game. Though he accepted the strategy, cracks became visible, and his frustrations occasionally surfaced during media duties.
Despite different racing styles, Porsche succeeded by optimising their strengths, proving that even an internal rivalry can drive the team forward. Now the question is whether Porsche can maintain their momentum — and who will step into the seat vacated by da Costa.