Da Costa’s dream day: Madrid magic in front of family and friends

Vitoria! There is nothing quite like a "home" win, even when it’s technically across the border.

Antonio Felix da Costa turned the Circuito del Jarama into a Portuguese party at Saturday’s Madrid E-Prix, storming to his 14th career victory and becoming the first driver to secure multiple wins this season.

Starting third, the Jaguar TCS Racing charger was a tactical maestro, perfectly timing his pit boost and attack mode to slice through to the front. The final laps were a defensive masterclass as he fended off teammate Mitch Evans and a charging pack including Cupra Kiro’s Dan Ticktum and Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein.

While the Spanish fans packed the grassy banks and grandstands to the brim, the loudest cheers came from the ‘DAC SHACK’ – da Costa’s personal hospitality area filled with over 80 friends and family who made the six-hour drive from Lisbon.

Seeing the 2019/20 Champion pull up to celebrate with his inner circle was the emotional peak of the 2026 season so far.

“Honestly, it's a dream day,” da Costa stated post-race.

“To win in front of so much of my family, I mean they see me leave the house and come back, sometimes happy, sometimes sad, sometimes healthy, sometimes not so healthy, and they only hear about it or we discuss it at the dinner table but they were here today and they don’t get to see me race.

“So to do it in front of them is just amazing, very happy with that and you know I am an emotional guy and today we just took it up a notch.”

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