PODIUM FINISH FOR BMW i ANDRETTI MOTORSPORT.
13 March 2019
For the second time in this ABB FIA Formula E Championship season, António Félix da Costa (POR) has finished in second place – this time it was in very dramatic fashion in the Mexico City E-Prix (MEX).
As the fastest driver in qualifying group one, Félix da Costa made it to the Super Pole and started the race from fifth on the grid. In the final stage of the race, the BMW works driver in his #28 BMW iFE.18 put his strong energy management to good use and moved up from fifth to a podium spot on the final lap.
Félix da Costa commented, “Ahead of the race weekend, I said that we need to give it our all here to pick up as many points as possible… As the end of the race drew near it became clear that some of the cars in front of me might start having problems, so I waited for my chance – and then took it. I’m delighted with the podium.”
This result sees him gain 18 points in the drivers’ standings and, with 46 points, he now lies second on the table, while BMW i Andretti Motorsport Team is third in the team standings, with 64 points.
Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Director, said “What a race! António Félix da Costa battled superbly and kept his cool in his duel with Sébastien Buemi. Then, in the closing stage, our good energy efficiency and race strategy paid off. It was literally in the final metres that António moved up onto the podium.”
Alexander Sims (GBR), who qualified in seventh place on the grid, was hit by another car in the opening phase, which temporarily halted the race and saw him finish in 14th place.
Sims said, “It isn’t the result that we had hoped for but it was out of our hands today. After Nelson Piquet Jr. hit my car the team’s reaction was fantastic and they got me back out on track as quickly as possible after the repairs.”