Following the whirlwind of Christmas and New Year festivities, Jaguar TCS Racing star Antonio Felix da Costa has swiftly switched back to racing mode. The Portuguese driver is preparing for the second round of the all-electric championship, the Mexico City E-Prix, after a season opener in Sao Paulo last month that ended in disappointment.
Karting Session to Shake Off the Festive Rust
To shake off the holiday break and get back into the competitive rhythm, da Costa organized a high-octane karting session with a group of friends and fellow racers. The gathering served as a perfect blend of fun and focus ahead of the upcoming Formula E challenge.
The group was a mix of experienced hands and exciting new talent. Da Costa was joined by future Formula 1 driver Arvid Lindblad, the Red Bull Junior who is slated to make his F1 debut with Racing Bulls in 2026. Also present were racers Bernardo Sousa and Lourenco Beirao da Veiga, along with Portuguese footballers Frederico Duarte and Lucas Araujo, among other friends.
Da Costa captured the spirit of the day on his Instagram Stories, sharing a group photo with the caption, "Getting the Christmas rust off." He also posted a video clip of himself on track with the young F1 prospect, writing, "Sunset drives with Arvid Lindblad." The photos and videos clearly showed the group enjoying themselves while re-engaging their racing instincts.
From Family Time to Focus on Mexico City
The karting outing came after a well-deserved holiday break for the Formula E champion. Da Costa celebrated Christmas and New Year's Eve with his family and close circle. He shared intimate glimpses of family gatherings with his wife, Ines Castro, and the couple welcomed the New Year at a stylish Portuguese venue, dressed elegantly in black for the occasion.
Now, his attention is fully on the track at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. While da Costa has never won the Mexico City E-Prix, he has an impressive record there, finishing as runner-up last season and securing podium finishes in both 2019 and 2020. He will be keen to finally top the podium this year, marking a strong start to his first full campaign with the Jaguar TCS Racing team after moving from Porsche at the end of Season 11.
A Tumultuous Start to Season 12
The new Formula E season, however, began on a challenging note for da Costa in Sao Paulo. Showing strong pace, he started sixth on the grid and was in contention for a podium finish. His race, however, was cut short due to a dramatic incident. He was hit by the Cupra Kiro rookie Josep "Pepe" Martí, whose car was launched into the air and shattered into pieces upon impact. The collision ended da Costa's promising run prematurely.
As the championship moves to North America, the Portuguese driver will be aiming to leave that misfortune behind and convert his proven speed in Mexico City into a crucial victory, kick-starting his campaign with the Jaguar team in earnest.
