How 'brutal honesty' helped end da Costa Formula E 'slump'

Antonio Felix da Costa has revealed that his team being "brutally honest" with him this year helped end his Formula E 'slump', which saw his Porsche future questioned. 

Ever since Porsche conducted a private test with Abt Cupra's Nico Müller earlier this year – a story revealed by The Race and later confirmed to RacingNews365 by da Costa – the 32-year-old has been in the form of his life. 

He endured a difficult start to Formula E Season 10, but is now an outside title contender heading into next weekend's season finale in London. Da Costa has sensationally won four of the last five races, and is in the form of his life. 

In fact, da Costa's current form is greater than when he won the title in Season 6. So just how has he risen from the ashes so incredibly? RacingNews365 asked the Porsche driver that very question.

"Just a procedural thing in the momentum building, you don't switch form overnight you don't just turn that switch on," da Costa told RacingNews365. 

"I've been in bad moments before in my career, which has helped me to deal with this one. But also, I think having, my engineers around me, they've been always brutally honest and very fair with me.

"Especially my manager, my two engineers, they've always been super, super honest. Which sometimes hurts to hear, but it's the only way to get out of slumps."

Accepting criticism

At 32 years old, da Costa is at an age where he can take criticism on the chin and use it to improve going forwards. 

Back in Misano after Porsche's test with Müller was discovered, da Costa was bombarded with questions regarding his future with the team. 

Incredibly, because of his recent form, the Portuguese driver looks set to remain with the Stuttgart-based team, as reported by The Race.

It has been a season to remember for both good and bad reasons for da Costa, who is pleased with how himself and his team have transformed this year.

"I'm mature enough now at 32 years old to to be able to take constructive criticism, and that's the only way to move forward, that's the way I like to operate," added da Costa.

"I think ultimately, that was the right way to approach it. And I'm very happy that we've managed to switch it around."