» Formula E: Günther replaces da Costa

The BMW i Andretti Motorsport team will have a change in its driving line-up for the 2019-20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season. Long-time driver António Félix da Costa will end his BMW association, with his seat being claimed by GEOX Dragon driver Maximilian Günther.

A Formula 2 Championship graduate, the 22-year-old Günther contested ten races for GEOX Dragon in the 2018-19 season. The German achieved a best finish of fifth place and was twice a contender in ‘Super Pole’ qualifying en route to finishing 17th overall in the Drivers’ Championship standings – four spots better than full-time teammate José María López.

Günther will return to his roots, having finished runner-up in the 2011 Formula BMW Talent Cup before moving up the single-seater racing ladder ahead of a switch to the Formula E Championship.

“I am looking forward to Maximilian Günther returning to the BMW family,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

“We followed his performance last season very closely. Maximilian regularly managed to get the maximum out of his car package. That saw him achieve some impressive results. Having a driver with a history of BMW single-seater racing is a great fit.”

The 2018-19 season was the first factory effort by BMW in its partnership with Andretti Autosport, and it saw da Costa lead the team to victory at the season-opening Ad Diriyah ePrix. He and teammate Alexander Sims denied each other a 1-2 finish when they collided at the next race in Marrakech, but the team did achieve a further four podium finishes over the season, finishing fifth in the Teams’ Championship standings.

Antonio Felix da Costa, BMW i Andretti Motorsport - 2019 Berlin ePrix

With no confirmation of da Costa’s next steps, speculation is rife as to what the future holds for the 28-year-old racer. After finishing the last season in sixth and, at one point, challenging for the title, time will tell where the former BMW driver will find himself

Da Costa’s association across BMW’s suite of racing programmes had ended, with his 52-race Formula E career with Andretti and BMW seeing the Portuguese driver claim two wins and five podium finishes.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Antonio very much for the good collaboration this past Formula E season and in the six years overall as a BMW works driver in the DTM, the WEC, in GT racing and in Formula E,” added Marquardt.

“We had a great time together but agreed that a change would be good for both parties. Now we wish him all the best on his new journey.”

2019-20 FIA Formula E Championship – Provisional Entry List (to-date)
Team	Drivers
DS Techeetah	Jean-Éric Vergne	TBA
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler	Lucas di Grassi	Daniel Abt
Envision Virgin Racing	Sam Bird	Robin Frijns
Nissan e.dams	Sébastien Buemi	Oliver Rowland
BMW i Andretti Motorsport	Maximilian Günther	TBA
Mahindra Racing	TBA	TBA
Panasonic Jaguar Racing	TBA	TBA
Venturi Racing	Felipe Massa	Edoardo Mortara
Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team	TBA	TBA
GEOX Dragon	Brendon Hartley	TBA
NIO 333 FE Team	TBA	TBA
TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team	André Lotterer	Neel Jani