Taylor Barnard became the youngest Formula E driver stepping in for the injured Sam Bird at the Monaco E-Prix.
Born in 2004 in Norwich, he drives for PHM Racing in F2, has had the opportunity to jump on the NEOM McLaren n 8 of Sam Bird that suffered a hand injury during FP1 in Monaco.
Last-Minute Call Up for Taylor Barnard
Speaking after the race, Barnard acknowledged the challenge. “It’s definitely a positive that I had driven the car recently in Misano, but nothing prepares you for this,” he admitted to Last Word on Motorsport. “Qualifying and racing are a whole different ballgame compared to free practice.”
Qualifying proved challenging, but a valuable learning experience for the young driver. “It was tough, and I wasn’t able to pull off my second push lap as well as I hoped,” he admitted. “However, it was a good learning opportunity as I got more used to the car.”
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Starting from the back of the grid, Barnard took a strategic approach for his first Formula E race. “Ahead of me, there were some crashes and incidents, which led to a lot of bodywork and debris on the track. Part of the plan was to stay out of trouble, keep the car clean and save as much energy as possible at the beginning.”
Strategic Race Pays Off
This strategy paid off handsomely. “It ended up paying off, as I finished in P14, good on energy and I think I managed the race well,” Barnard said with satisfaction. “The team made me feel very comfortable, and I had no issues jumping straight into the deep end. A big thank you to the team for giving me the car and the opportunity.”
His performance giving the circumstances was outstanding just for his ability to avoid any crashes. Despite the lack of preparation, Barnard seemed to take the pressure in stride. “I think we did the best we could in the situation,” he said. “Starting from the back gave me some breathing room to learn the car and manage the energy, which is crucial in Formula E.” In the end Mclaren strategy paid off. “It ended up paying off, as I finished in P14, good on energy and I think I managed the race well,” Barnard said with satisfaction. “The team made me feel very comfortable, and I had no issues jumping straight into the deep end. A big thank you to the team for giving me the car and the opportunity.”
How he handled the race
Energy management is a key differentiator in Formula E, where drivers must strategically conserve battery power to complete the race. “It’s definitely different from anything I’ve driven before,” Taylor Barnard said. “But I think I did a good job considering the surrounding chaos. Starting from the back might have actually been a blessing in disguise, allowing me to focus on saving energy.”
While the final finishing position wasn’t disclosed, Barnard’s successful debut under such unexpected circumstances is a promising sign for the young driver. The Formula E paddock has certainly taken notice of him.
