BIRD IS BACK! Sam Bird returns for NEOM McLaren in China

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BIRD IS BACK! Sam Bird returns for NEOM McLaren in China

NEOM McLaren have confirmed the return of Sam Bird, following his absence in Berlin due to injury.

Sam Bird Berlin Season 10 rookie test

Bird was found to have broken his hand after an incident in Free Practice 1 at the 2024 Monaco E-Prix, which saw the Brit lock up and hit the wall in the run-off area at Turn 1, Sainte Devote.

NEOM McLaren confirmed the injury in a statement after the session, once Bird had been examined and sent to hospital for further checks.

The Brit underwent a successful procedure to rectify the injury to the same hand he'd injured back in July 2022 during the London E-Prix. He was on-site in both Monaco and Berlin to support and advise Barnard, with the youngster calling out the positive impact Bird had on his Formula E debut weekends.

Bird will return to the #8 McLaren as Formula E heads to Shanghai for the very first time.

Super sub

Taylor Barnard jumped into the cockpit following Bird's injury, seeing out the Monaco E-Prix weekend and impressing team boss Ian James along the way.

The 19-year-old went one better in Berlin with two points scoring finishes with 10th and eighth to set another record as the youngest points-scorer in Formula E.

FE_S10_R10_BERLIN_MOTW_BARNARD_V6_16x9

The youngster will continue in his role as the team's Reserve and Development Driver, dovetailing that work with an ongoing FIA Formula 2 campaign.