Da Costa strikes twice in Berlin for DS Techeetah/Michelin

Victory for Antonio Felix da Costa in this season’s first two Berlin E-Prix at the wheel of his Michelin Pilot Sport-equipped DS E-TENSE FE20 has taken the Portuguese driver further clear at the top of the provisional Drivers’ standings. Four more races are scheduled to take place at the German capital’s former Tempelhof Airport between now and August 13 to wrap up the 2019/2020 FIA Formula E Championship.

Da Costa followed up his victory in Morocco in February, prior to the Covid-19 lockdown, with back-to-back wins in Berlin after dominating the first two of the six races scheduled to be hosted by the German city over a period of just nine days.

“The six races take place around three different circuit configurations, but all three feature the same abrasive surface,” says Jérôme Mondain, the manager of Michelin Motorsport’s Formula E programme. “It’s the hardest-wearing venue of the season but yet again, even though the track temperature climbed to almost 40°C, and even though the tyre allocation per driver has been cut by 25 percent, the Michelin Track Connect-equipped Michelin Pilot Sport provided another illustration of its long-lasting performance credentials. Indeed, the fastest laps were all posted in the last-third of both of the races that have taken place so far.

“As for the 25-percent reduction in the number of tyres available per driver, this has had no impact on either the teams’ preparations or the races themselves. Wear rates haven’t been high and our Formula E tyre has delivered its usual combination of performance and consistency.”

Da Costa qualified on pole position for Race 1 which he led for all 36 laps, clocking the fastest race lap in the process. The Portuguese driver went on to win Race 2, as well, by a margin of three seconds. “The second E-Prix was tougher because Sébastien Buemi pushed me all the way,” declared the provisional Drivers’ championship leader who has gone 68 points clear at the top of the table.

He was joined on Race 2’s podium by the 2015/2016 champion Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams/Michelin) and the 2016/2017 champ Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler/Michelin). André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche FE Team/Michelin) and Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing/Michelin) were second and third in Race 1, while two-time champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS Techeetah/Michelin) has only scored one point so far in Berlin.

Rounds 3 and 4: Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9 (Berlin, Germany).

Final positions – Race 1

1. Antonio Felix da Costa (DS Techeetah), 36 laps

2. André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche FE Team), +5.445s

3. Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing), +6.526s

4. Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-Benz EQ FE Team), +6.911s

5. Jérôme d’Ambrosio (Mahindra Racing), +13.212s

Etc.

Final positions – Race 2

1. Antonio Felix da Costa (DS Techeetah), 38 laps

2. Sébastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams), +3.090s

3. Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler), +8.296s

4. Robin Frijns (Envision Virgin Racing), +9.239s

5. Stoffel Vandoorne (Mercedes-Benz EQ FE Team), +9.695s

Etc.