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news interview taylor barnard neom mclaren formula e team stagione 11

NEOM McLaren's Taylor Barnard targeting more Formula E records after becoming youngest podium finisher in São Paulo

INTERVISTA 08 dic 2024 3 Min

NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard picked up his first podium for the papaya team, with the rookie going from 17th on the grid to third place over a chaotic São Paulo E-Prix.

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news interview taylor barnard neom mclaren formula e team stagione 11

Article by Katy Fairman

In just his fourth race with the team, Taylor Barnard managed to navigate one of the championship’s greatest-ever races to collect his first piece of silverware for the NEOM McLaren team. Teammate Sam Bird also finished just behind in fourth, meaning McLaren currently top the Teams’ Standings with 27 points to their name.

After qualifying in 17th, Barnard started the São Paulo E-Prix from the ninth row of the grid but quickly fell back and found himself in last place on the second lap of the race. He progressed up, and by Lap 29 of 35 the young rookie was seventh with 25% usable energy left – the most of anyone.

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A clean pass on teammate Bird saw him move up into fifth, but almost immediately after an incident ahed involving TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Nick Cassidy triggered a red flag and the race was stopped. Thankfully both drivers were unhurt in the collision.

At the race restart, Barnard was promoted to third due to Wehrlein and Cassidy’s clash. He kept his cool, still with a 4% energy advantage to Mitch Evans (Jaguar) and Antonio Felix da Costa (Porsche) ahead, and maintained the position with Bird just behind at the chequered flag.

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What Formula E records does Taylor Barnard have?

“It feels great,” Barnard began as he became the all-electric championship's youngest podium finisher at just 20 years old and 189 days. Add this to his record of youngest driver to start a race from Monaco earlier this year, as well youngest points scorer in Berlin, and it's quite the collection of achievements.

“Being the youngest point scorer in Formula E was pretty nice, but being the youngest podium sitter is even better. I think my target is firmly now set on being the youngest race winner.

“The team did a great job this weekend and this Nissan powertrain seems to be pretty strong, so I don't think [a win] is unrealistic. I have set myself a high bar!”

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Although Barnard is labelled a ‘rookie’, he was behind the wheel for three races across Season 10 when covering for an injured Sam Bird. This however will be the first full Formula E season for the 20-year-old.

“NEOM McLaren do a great job at bringing in new and young drivers into an environment that feels like a family. It's really enjoyable to work with everyone.

“To have someone like Sam, who is extremely experienced and well known in Formula E, supporting me and to be so friendly towards me is really great. I hope we can continue this friendship and this competitiveness into the rest of the season.”

Although Bird and Barnard started 16th and 17th respectively, it was a strong qualifying for Nissan – their powertrain supplier. Oliver Rowland started from second, with Norman Nato also making it through to the Duels to start sixth.

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“We struggled in qualifying, but it was just us and Nissan seems pretty strong,” Barnard continued. “As a team, we still have a lot to work on. But the main thing is that the powertrain is really strong which is good for us as a team.

“So, a lot to work on, a lot to improve, but to walk away with the points that we have, and with the improvement gap that we still need to make, it is looking good.”