Why Felix da Costa has even more respect for Max Verstappen after this decision

These are busy weeks for Antonio Felix da Costa. Following his first race with the Alpine hypercar in the World Endurance Championship (WEC), the Portuguese driver tested the GEN4 car for Formula E, after which he contested two FE races in Berlin. This weekend, he is back with Alpine for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

Next weekend sees Formula E return, with two races in Monaco. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen will be a few hundred kilometres away competing in the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring, a race he will contest with Jules Gounon, Daniel Juncadella, and Lucas Auer; the first two are very good friends of Verstappen - just like Felix da Costa.

Due to the clash with Formula E, it would have been impossible regardless, but Verstappen did not ask Felix da Costa to accompany him in Mercedes’ GT3 car for the iconic endurance race at all, yet the Portuguese fully understands why.

“He’s driving for Mercedes now, so he looked for the people who know the car best,” said Felix da Costa. "Jules and Dani drive it so often now. I can’t compete with that. But that’s what I admire about him. Why would he give a seat to a friend? Okay, I’m not a bad driver, but friendship comes second when money and performance are at stake. He goes for the best people for that car. That’s why I admire him so much.”

Antonio Felix da Costa took part in the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2016. “That was a while ago. I did it with Augusto Farfus, Timo Scheider, and Alex Lynn. We were running second with four or five hours to go when the ABS failed while Augusto was in the car. He went off. We were doing well.”

If it ever does, Felix da Costa will think carefully about whether he should take it. The Portuguese realizes that the Nordschleife is a beautiful circuit, but it carries considerable risks. “I’m going to be completely honest with you. When I put my helmet on and sit in the car, I don’t think about it. And that’s exactly what’s scary about it. But when I look at it from the outside, the Nordschleife is a dangerous place. And sometimes I do think twice before getting back in that car,” he said.