Taylor Barnard will embark on his first full season in Formula E with McLaren in Season 11.
The Brit will partner experienced teammate Sam Bird for the 2024/25 season, who has been in the all-electric series since the beginning in 2014/15, giving him a fantastic role model to learn from.
Barnard will be the youngest driver in Formula E next season at the age of 20, with the series not being a traditional route for young talents to improve their racecraft and develop their skills on the way to F1.
But that may be changing with the likes of the Brit and fellow Formula 2 driver Zane Maloney moving over to FE to compete in a professional setting. Barnard says too many F2 are close-minded as they solely put their focus into reaching F1 rather than branching out into other categories.
Taylor Barnard’s ‘calmness’ and willingness to learn led to his ‘outstanding’ display in Monaco on his Formula E debut
That is exactly what the 20-year-old has done, as he joined FE in the 2023/24 season as McLaren’s reserve driver after impressing in a pre-season rookie test.
Barnard was handed his debut in the series at the Monaco ePrix that year, taking the place of his future teammate Bird after he broke his wrist in a practice crash.
Qualifying at the back of the grid, the Brit climbed to 14th in the race, which is no easy feat around the narrow streets of Monte Carlo. Barnard would remain in the car for the Berlin double-header, and registered a double points finish with 10th and eighth.
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Speaking with Autosport, McLaren team principal Ian James knew Barnard had talent before his debut, but his ‘calmness’ after the ‘initial shock’ of being thrust into the car showed the team how good he was.
“We knew before we put him in that car in Monaco the talent that he had and the ability as well, that was clear to see through how he worked with the team through the opportunities that he’d had to drive the car previously,” he said.
“But until you actually put him in that competitive environment, you don’t really know how he’s going to react. After the initial shock [of being told he was racing in Monaco], just the calmness, the approach that he had working together with the engineers, listening to them. I think he did an outstanding job and showed the strength of his character.”
How will Taylor Barnard fair in Season 11?
Barnard moves to FE from F2, having been in his first season in the junior category in 2024 with AIX Racing.
Struggling for consistent points for much of the year, the Brit registered his first win – as it would turn out – in Monaco in the Sprint Race. Barnard left the championship before the round at Monza to begin his next chapter with McLaren.
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As the Gen3 Evo car makes its entrance to the all-electric series, the Woking-based outfit will be hoping to move up the field after finishing a disappointing seventh in the standings in Season 10.
There will be some pressure on Barnard’s shoulders, and perhaps some expectations given his impressive performance previously with the team in Monaco and Berlin.
But with Bird alongside him, as well as a strong team in McLaren, the 20-year-old is in a good place to show his talent.