DTM clash affects Antonio Felix da Costa's 2015/16 Formula E hopes
The later start to Formula E's second season and consequent DTM clash is complicating Red Bull Formula 1 test driver Antonio Felix da Costa's pursuit of a strong seat
Beijing will host the 2015/16 FE season opener on October 17, a month later than the inaugural season and the same weekend as the DTM's season finale, when da Costa will be on BMW duty at Hockenheim.
Having joined Amlin Aguri at FE's second round, da Costa won the Buenos Aires ePrix in January and is currently eighth in the standings.
He will already miss next weekend's London season finale due to DTM's Norisring round - with Amlin Aguri enlisting ex-F1 driver Sakon Yamamoto in his place - and the additional clash is slowing progress on securing a 2015/16 seat.
"At the moment, DTM is my priority, I'm having so much fun in that championship," da Costa told AUTOSPORT.
"Even though we're struggling a little bit now as a family, the pleasure I have driving that car and working with a brand like BMW has no price.
"Formula E, it's been very good to be here and involved from the beginning, and it's getting very serious now.
"It's not like the first few races where everybody comes to see what it looks like.
"I'd like to do it again next year, and a few teams are interested, but the problem is that I cannot give priority to this at the moment as I'm contracted to DTM.
"If the races clash, that's my priority."
Championship leader Nelson Piquet Jr has penned a new multi-season deal with China Racing, while Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt will remain with Abt Sportsline.
As eight new manufacturers develop powertrains for Formula E's second season, da Costa feels his Red Bull experience would be beneficial.
"I'd love to do this, and I think I'm in a good position to develop the cars for year two," he said.
"I'm experienced with all of the [energy] regen, lift and coast, as I've been doing it for a few years now in the F1 simulator, so it's not hard for me to do this, and develop it."
Nelson Piquet Jr signs new multi-season China Racing Formula E deal
Manor F1 reserve Fabio Leimer to make Formula E debut in London
Laser Tools Racing continues in BTCC with Hill
The Laser Tools Racing name that was carried to British Touring Car Championship titles in 2020 and 2021 will continue in the series after all with Jake Hill.
McLaren to share F1 reserve driver Schumacher with Mercedes
Mercedes Formula 1 reserve driver Mick Schumacher will be also made available as a stand-in to McLaren, the Woking team has announced.
NASCAR Next Gen car gets safety upgrades for 2023 season
NASCAR unveiled some changes to the Next Gen car for the 2023 season, with most enhancing its safety aspects.
O’Ward optimistic about Rossi and that McLaren IndyCar DNFs can be reduced
Arrow McLaren ace Pato O’Ward says he’s confident that Alexander Rossi will be a strong addition to the line-up and that the team has gotten on top of its mechanical woes.
The key factors behind Porsche's strong start to Formula E's new era
A low-key Valencia test left some quarters of Porsche's Formula E squad worried, but a 100% winning start for the German manufacturer's powertrain in 2022-23 underlines its early race day advantage. Porsche's key figures explain the strong start in Gen3, and why the work is only just beginning
How Wehrlein's Diriyah double reveals Formula E's form book shake-up
After Porsche-powered drivers locked out the top two positions to open Formula E's new Gen3 era in Mexico, the order was reversed in Diriyah. Ex-Formula 1 driver Pascal Wehrlein's factory car headed Jake Dennis's customer Andretti machine in both races under the Riyadh lights in a display that leaves little doubt as to which package currently has the edge
The first impressions of Formula E's brave new era
OPINION: Formula E kicked off its Gen3 era at Mexico City with keen anticipation - and anxiety - surrounding its new, more powerful cars. Here's how the new machinery got on in its first race, and what could be open to improvement later down the line
How Dennis dominated Formula E's new generation opener
Formula E’s Gen3 era kicked off with more unpredictability as Andretti’s Jake Dennis recovered from poor pre-season testing to dominate in Mexico. Here's how it played out and what the opener hints at what is to come in the new generation of the electric series
Is this a Formula E 'nearly man's' best chance yet at title glory?
With braking issues scuppering his championship hopes at a crucial moment in the 2021-22 Formula E season, Mitch Evans is more determined than ever heading into this year. He explains how he plans to make it third time lucky after two title near-misses
Can McLaren make a success of its foray into Formula E?
McLaren kept a two-time title-winning Formula E team alive after purchasing the Mercedes entry. But with new drivers and a switch to customer status, can it continue to succeed in its new orange era?
10 things we learned from Valencia Formula E testing
The prologue to the 2022/2023 Formula E season has concluded as the series gets set for the new Gen3 era. After almost four days of testing in Valencia this week, Autosport takes a look at the 10 major talking points that will dominate the build-up to the new campaign getting underway in January.
How Jaguar got its teeth into Formula E's Gen3 development race
With Mercedes gone and DS moving teams, Jaguar has a big opportunity at the start of Formula E's Gen3 era. The technical challenges in understanding the new car have been vast, with senior figures James Barclay and Phil Charles outlining to Autosport the pitfalls along the way
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.