McLaren announce new driver for Formula E Season 11.
Young British driver, Taylor Barnard is set to return to Formula E with McLaren, after competing in two rounds of Season 10.
Barnard debuted in the electric championship during the 2024 Monaco E-Prix, replacing the injured Sam Bird and becoming the youngest driver in FE history, at only nineteen, being born in 2004. The official McLaren driver had to undergo an operation after the injury to his left hand, with Barnard staying in the car also during the Berlin E-Prix. On this occasion, he scored points during both races, finishing in tenth and eighth position.
McLaren was keeping an eye on him even before the Monaco race, with Barnard taking place to the Valencia and Misano rookie tests, finishing on top during the Italian session. Also, the Briton has been the reserve driver of the team during the last two seasons. Barnard, who is racing in Formula 2 this season with the AIX Racing team, is ready to work with McLaren, starting in November, on the occasion of the Valencia tests.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Formula E's youngest-ever points-scorer Taylor Barnard will race for @McLarenFE in Season 11, joining teammate @sambirdofficial!
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) August 27, 2024
Bird and Barnard dream the success
The Formula E team based in the UK confirmed the renewal of Sam Bird, who is ready to drive for McLaren for his second season, after leaving Jaguar at the end of Season 9. The choice to place side by side a more expert driver like Bird – who has raced in FE since the first season, in 2014 – and a younger talent, could have a positive impact on a growing team like McLaren.
McLaren, which debuted in Formula E only two years ago, in Season 9, has to work to be at the top and fight for podiums and victories. After a strong start in Season 9, the team had to face many difficulties during the rest of the calendar. In Season 10, the situation bettered and Bird found the first win for the team, conquering the higher step of the podium in Hyderabad. The objective for Season 11 is to achieve more podiums and find a better spot in the Teams Championship, after the seventh place of Season 10 and the eighth position of Season 9.
A new, younger, era of Formula E
Formula E is becoming a more accessible category to the younger drivers. During the last two seasons, more junior drivers – coming from different categories – joined the electric championship, starting from Sacha Fenestraz, who has raced for Nissan since Season 9. During Season 10, Jean Daruvala debuted with Maserati. The Indian drivers came from experience in Formula 2, just like the British Dan Ticktum, racing for ERT.
The rookie test invention has brought Formula E to work with many junior drivers, like Felipe Drugovich – third driver for Maserati during the past seasons – or Zane Maloney, the Andretti team reserve driver. Formula E needs to bring in its fields younger talents, in a way to grow and build its own future. There is now great curiosity for Taylor Barnard’s performances and results, with McLaren which could have introduced to Formula E the ‘next big thing’.
