Da Costa switches to Techeetah for 2019-20 Formula E season

Antonio Felix da Costa has joined reigning FIA Formula E champions DS Techeetah for the upcoming 2019-2020 season.

The Portuguese driver has left BMW to fill the sole-remaining seat vacated by Andre Lotterer, who left the Chinese squad to join Porsche ahead of its foray into the all-electric series.

At Techeetah, da Costa will partner two-time FE champion Jean-Eric Vergne to form the team’s new-look line-up for season six, with both drivers reunited as teammates after being formally part of the Red Bull programme.

“Getting the opportunity to join a double championship winning team in such a highly competitive motorsport category like Formula E it’s very rare," da Costa said.

"It was a very hard decision to leave my current position but it’s an opportunity I just couldn’t say no to and I’m very excited to join Jean-Éric and everyone at DS TECHEETAH.”

Techeetah team principal Mark Preston added: "It’s fantastic to have Antonio with the team. He’s a good friend to all of us and we’re all looking forward to welcoming him and to see him in the gold and black DS TECHEETAH colours.

"He will be a great, and fast, addition to the team and we’re all very excited to see what Jean-Eric and Antonio will deliver on track this coming year.”

da Costa is expected to get his first taste of Techeetah’s FE machinery during a private test run ahead of pre-season testing, which takes place at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo Circuit between October 15-18, ahead of the season opener in Saudi Arabia in November.

The 28-year-old moves to Techeetah off the back of his best season in FE to date. He won the Ad Diriyah 2018-19 opener to claim his second career victory in the series, before a further three podium appearances followed in Mexico, Sanya and New York as da Costa ended the year sixth in the standings, having scored 99 points.