Clash affects da Costa's FE seat hopes

The later start to Formula E's second season and consequent DTM clash is complicating Red Bull Formula 1 test driver Antonio Felix da Costa's pursuit of a strong seat.

Beijing will host the 2015-'16 FE season opener on Oct. 17, a month later than the inaugural season and the same weekend as the DTM's season finale, when da Costa will be on BMW duty at Hockenheim.

Having joined Amlin Aguri at FE's second round, da Costa won the Buenos Aires ePrix in January and is currently eighth in the standings. He will already miss next weekend's London season finale due to DTM's Norisring round - with Amlin Aguri enlisting ex-F1 driver Sakon Yamamoto in his place - and the additional clash is slowing progress on securing a 2015-'16 seat.

"At the moment, DTM is my priority, I'm having so much fun in that championship," da Costa told AUTOSPORT. "Even though we're struggling a little bit now as a family, the pleasure I have driving that car and working with a brand like BMW has no price.

"Formula E, it's been very good to be here and involved from the beginning, and it's getting very serious now. It's not like the first few races where everybody comes to see what it looks like.

"I'd like to do it again next year, and a few teams are interested, but the problem is that I cannot give priority to this at the moment as I'm contracted to DTM. If the races clash, that's my priority."

Championship leader Nelson Piquet Jr. has penned a new multi-season deal with China Racing, while Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt will remain with Abt Sportsline.

As eight new manufacturers develop powertrains for Formula E's second season, da Costa feels his Red Bull experience would be beneficial.

"I'd love to do this, and I think I'm in a good position to develop the cars for year two," he said. "I'm experienced with all of the [energy] regen, lift and coast, as I've been doing it for a few years now in the F1 simulator, so it's not hard for me to do this, and develop it."

Originally on Autosport.com