Taylor Barnard has secured a full-time Formula E seat with McLaren Racing in 2025 alongside Sam Bird in a new line-up.
The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team today announces its full driver lineup for the 2024/25 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The team is delighted to announce that Taylor Barnard will compete on a full-time basis, alongside Sam Bird.
Taylor entered single seater racing in 2020. Since then, he has become the 2022 ADAC Formula 4 runner-up, as well as the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship runner-up. In 2023, during his debut season in FIA Formula 3, he took his maiden victory in the championship at Spa-Francorchamps. So far in 2024, Taylor competed in FIA Formula 2 with AIX Racing alongside his duties as Reserve and Development Driver for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, before now taking on a full-time drive for the team.
Taylor had his first experience competing behind the wheel of Formula E machinery for NEOM McLaren during the 2024 Monaco E-Prix and Berlin E-Prix, stepping in last minute for the injured Sam Bird. Finishing those races in 14th, 10th and eighth respectively, Taylor impressed the paddock, as well as becoming the youngest points scorer in Formula E history at the age of 19.
Following his first season competing with NEOM McLaren, Sam Bird will continue with the team for Season 11. Sam has competed in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since Season 1 (2014/15) of the championship, being one of the only drivers on the grid to do so – as well as being one of the most successful drivers on the grid, claiming 12 wins, 26 podium places and 6 Pole Positions over the course of those ten seasons. During his first season with NEOM McLaren, Sam secured the team’s first win in spectacular fashion at the 2024 São Paulo E-Prix.
The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team will be in action for Season 11 at Pre-Season Testing in Valencia, Spain on 4 – 7 November, ahead of the season opener São Paulo E-Prix on 7 December 2024.
Taylor Barnard said: “I am delighted to be racing for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team in Season 11. In Season 10, I was the team’s Reserve and Development Driver and during that time I learnt a lot, putting my new knowledge into practice in Monaco and Berlin. I am excited to race alongside Sam this season, and I am sure I will learn a lot from him.
He is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, and I hope that together we can score plenty of points and collect some trophies for the team. It’s an amazing opportunity to be able to continue the journey with the team as full-time Formula E driver, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Sam Bird said: “I’m very happy to be staying with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team for Season 11. This team has become like family to me, and I believe that we can achieve even better things together in the upcoming season. We’ve done some good work in our first season together; now it’s time to build on that and create even better memories in my second year with the team.”
Ian James, Managing Director, NEOM McLaren Electric Racing and Team Principal, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said: “I am delighted with our lineup of Taylor and Sam for Season 11, our third in Formula E as the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Throughout his time with the team last season in his role of Reserve and Development Driver, Taylor has shown dedication, professionalism and talent both on the track and off it.
He relished a rare opportunity to demonstrate his ability at very short notice in Monaco and impressed the entire paddock. His grasp of Formula E was further underscored by strong, points-scoring races in Berlin. Joining NEOM McLaren at the start of Season 10, Sam immediately became an integral part of the team. He secured McLaren’s first win in electric racing in historic fashion in São Paulo and demonstrated constant hunger for success. Going into his second season with us, I have no doubt that he and Taylor will bring the team the results we are aiming for.”
Zak Brown, CEO, McLaren Racing, said: “As we enter our third year competing in Formula E, I am delighted that we will have a strong driver lineup in Sam and Taylor. Both have proven themselves to be impressive talents, both in Formula E and other categories. I look forward to leveraging their skills and expertise to help bring the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team to success in Season 11.”
[Note: The story is as per press release]
