Taylor Barnard: A champion in the making?
- Jodie Saxon
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
Written by Jodie Saxon, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
British driver Taylor Barnard has yet to complete a full season in Formula E, but he’s already etched his name into the record books. His first record came on debut at the 2024 Monaco E-Prix when he became the youngest driver to start a race in the all-electric championship, and it didn’t take him long to add another record to his collection when he became the youngest points scorer at the following round in Berlin.
His efforts while subbing in for an injured Sam Bird at McLaren for those three races did not go unnoticed, and he was promoted to a full race seat for season 11 in place of the departing Jake Hughes.
Now, with only 10 Formula E starts under his belt, Barnard sits 4th in the championship surrounded by champions - but could he be a champion in the making?
The growth of a rookie
Barnard kicked off Season 11 in São Paulo with a top-three finish, earning himself the title of youngest podium scorer along the way, but it was not a smooth ride to the top.
Despite starting 17th and being handed a drive-through penalty for his power usage being over the regulatory limit earlier on, a combination of his Attack Mode strategy and a pair of red flags landed him in third in the final few laps.
Ahead of him, Porsche’s António Félix da Costa and Jaguar’s Mitch Evans squabbled over the race lead, while teammate Bird, sitting in fourth behind Barnard, urged the team to encourage the youngster to jump into the battle and make a move.
In the end, Barnard did no such thing and instead held his ground. Although his hesitation may have robbed him of a potential first win and another record to add to his collection, it highlighted his maturity as a driver despite his young age.
Had he gone charging into the fray, with his inexperience compared to da Costa and Evans, it could’ve ended in disaster and cost him a strong result.
Barnard had a quiet round 2 in Mexico City, seeing the chequered flag in 14th, before returning to the headlines when he claimed pole position for the second Jeddah E-Prix, and once again earned himself another record for being the youngest driver to do so.
Despite not winning the race, it provided him with another chance to showcase his maturity as a driver and also his increase in confidence since São Paulo.
Towards the end of the race, Jake Dennis and Jean-Éric Vergne were battling each other with Barnard just behind. The McLaren youngster took the opportunity to sail past both of them, the duo squabbling into the corner, and gain two positions in one swoop.
A few laps later, Barnard scrapped with Jake Hughes over second, a brief mistake allowing Hughes to get close and sniff a move. Yet, Barnard was quick to slam the door shut and get his elbows out, stopping the man he replaced at McLaren from getting past.
São Paulo Barnard was hesitant, staying put in a position he knew he was safe in, but Jeddah Barnard was bolder, testing his limits and building his confidence on track. As the season goes on, Barnard is beginning to make those moves he was hesitant about earlier, while exercising patience to ensure he isn’t rushing into a crash.
Another pole followed during round 6 of the season in Monaco, but contact with Pascal Wehrlein that left him in the barriers and a lacklustre round 7 qualifying ensured he returned home from Monaco with no points.
Tokyo brought out Barnard’s wet-weather prowess, and he took home yet another podium, challenging championship leader Rowland to the finish line in round 8. Even in the following day’s race, Barnard ran in the top five, before a nudge from Edoardo Mortara’s Mahindra late on sent him into the turn 6 barrier, and out of the race.
Formula E’s 11th season has just crossed the halfway mark, and Barnard sits a proud fourth in the championship standings, 14 positions ahead of his more experienced teammate Bird, surrounded by the likes of Nyck de Vries, Pascal Wehrlein, and Antonio Felix da Costa – all Formula E champions.
The second half of the season will take Barnard to mostly unfamiliar territory, with the only track he’s raced at before being Berlin Tempelhof.
However, he hasn’t let new circuits faze him so far, and with the Nissan powertrain in his car a clear challenger to the might of Porsche, he may well lay claim to the title of youngest race winner before the season ends.
What does the future hold?
Only a few days before the Monaco E-Prix, McLaren confirmed they will leave Formula E at the end of season 11 in order to focus on their future in the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Although the team will likely stay on the grid with a new manufacturer headlining the project and Ian James continuing in his role as Team Principal, Barnard’s future in the team is not confirmed.
His results so far in the Nissan-powered McLaren will no doubt have put the eyes of the Nissan bosses on him, especially as their current drivers sit at opposite ends of the championship standings with a gulf of points between them.
Should he move to the factory team alongside current championship leader Oliver Rowland, he would no longer have room for those moments of rookie hesitation, as they would expect him to produce top results.
On the other hand, Nissan is set to continue providing powertrains for the entry into season 12, no matter who runs it. Barnard’s experience with the powertrain will put him in good stead to re-sign with the team and continue his development as a driver, a more likely option than a sudden promotion to the factory entry.
He could look for options elsewhere on the grid, with clashes between Formula E and WEC becoming increasingly unavoidable, leaving a handful of drivers forced to choose which series they compete in next season. There are a handful of drivers who have yet to perform in their current teams, and may be at risk of being replaced.
Irrespective of the path Barnard chooses, he surely has a long and prosperous Formula E career ahead of him. With only 12 starts to his name he has already proven himself more than capable of rubbing shoulders with the top drivers on the grid.
With every race he takes part in, he will continue to learn and thereby grow his confidence, allowing him to develop into a proper championship contender in the future.
Formula E’s 11th season continues on 31st May and 1st June, with a double header event in Shanghai, China.
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