The Portuguese driver took a largely dominant win in the weekend’s second race at the Shanghai International Circuit, having led for the ultimate 12 laps as he took his third on-the-road victory of the season.
Da Costa had taken the lead from Andretti’s Nato on the strategy to Flip 1 after shadowing the Andretti driver and admitted post-race that he seemed to work with the Porsche buyer staff.
“Managing my temperatures [was key], so there was loads of communication with the staff going backwards and forwards,” stated da Costa.
“Sooner or later there was a sneaky radio message there as nicely which was extra for Andretti, I used to be making an attempt to secretly inform them what the sport plan was and I feel they understood.
“Me and Norman helped one another, he led for some time after which I took the lead after after I had sufficient vitality to drag him with me.”
With temperatures in China nicely over 30C, and with the race distance one lap shorter than Saturday’s occasion, managing the thermal warmth of the batteries turned a important factor of the race.
However da Costa admitted that he suffered from no battery temperature points having taken the choice to steer for as a lot as doable – heading the sphere for 14 of the 28 laps, with Nato main 11 excursions.
“I may see Jake [Hughes] making an attempt to get clear air behind so he couldn’t really use his slipstream anymore, so after I noticed him beginning to do this, I knew I used to be safer,” added da Costa.
Antonio Felix da Costa, Porsche, 1st place, Jake Hughes, McLaren, 2nd place, Norman Nato, Andretti International, third place, have fun on the rostrum
Picture by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Hughes had demoted Nato for second 10 laps from the tip and completed within the runner-up place, which was the McLaren driver’s first podium in Method E since making his debut final season.
Having began on pole in China, his fourth in solely 27 races, Hughes stayed within the main group all through to report his first rostrum having come shut on a number of events beforehand.
“It’s the largest aid ever. Qualifying hasn’t been a problem however the races haven’t gone the way in which I needed them to on the entire,” stated the Briton.
“It feels prefer it’s 25, 26 races overdue, all the way in which again to my first race in Mexico final 12 months after I ought to have gotten a podium.
“As a lot as I don’t wish to say it or assume like that, it feels prefer it’s been hanging over me for some time now and it’s simply good to tick that field.”