Photo: McLaren
McLaren has announced Taylor Barnard as a full-time member of its Formula E line-up for 2025, after he impressed in several outings this season.
The 20-year-old Briton’s primary programme this year has been Formula 2, where he has claimed a win in Monaco as a rookie but scored scarcely since and is currently 20th in the standings.
Monaco was also where he made his FE debut, substituting for Sam Bird after he sustained a hand injury. The pair will be team-mates next year.
Barnard started last but rose up the order to finish 14th in his maiden FE race, then was utilised by McLaren for the Berlin E-Prix where he finished 10th in the first race and eighth in the second. He ended the season 22nd in the points table.
“I am delighted to be racing for the McLaren FE team,” said Barnard. “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 FE driver, and I can’t wait to get started.”
McLaren’s FE team principal Ian James added: “Taylor has shown dedication, professionalism and talent both on the track and off it [since joining McLaren]. He relished a rare opportunity to demonstrate his ability at very short notice in Monaco and impressed the entire paddock. His grasp of FE was further underscored by strong, points-scoring races in Berlin.”