NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard speaks exclusively to Motorsport Week full time to move FIA Formula Ehow it has now become a premium option for young drivers and his goals for Season 11.

Barnard caught the attention of Formula E and the wider motorsport community last season when he earned an A+ reserve role at McLaren.

When Sam Bird broke his hand in FP1 for the Monaco E-Prix, Barnard was drafted in twenty minutes before FP2. He would finish the race in 14th place, earning praise from all over the grid.

But he wasn’t done there. He spoke at Motorsport Week in Berlin He said before the double-header weekend that his aim was to score points in both races and he duly did so, putting his name firmly out there for a future Formula E drive.

Barnard explained to us that these talks would take place on that sunny, warm weekend in the German capital.

“I would say it was around Berlin when we really started talking about it,” he says. “When I did FP0 his first mention was around Misano. I think after my performance in the actual race, I think that’s when it really started.

“The talks started to happen and I would say probably a month or two from now is when things started to get very serious.”

Formula E is a ‘professional series’

It was inevitable that Barnard’s future in racing would be discussed in the paddock. first win There would be some tough decisions to be made in Monaco in Formula 2 with AIX Racing just a few weeks later.

Quite the opposite.

“I think it was a pretty easy decision, to be honest,” says Barnard. “I feel very comfortable in the team. Obviously it’s a very positive environment. I’ve done a few races and got the full experience, I’ve also had some good races so I felt like I had the full experience.

“And to be honest, it wasn’t a difficult decision to move from F2 to Formula E.”

Barnard is not the only driver to make the move from Formula 1’s main feeder championship to Formula E; Zane Maloney gave up his own championship ambitions to join the same team as Lola Yamaha ABT. Barnard puts this down to FE’s growing reputation and its drive to give young drivers a chance.

“I think Formula E has made a lot of steps in the last few years to become more attractive to young drivers.

“Obviously rookie testing and things like that give everyone the opportunity to at least try out.

“Obviously Zane is doing very well in F2 and having been on the bench in F1, he’s even in a better position to stay and he still made the decision to go to Formula E.”

“I’m not exactly sure why, but as a young rider it was very attractive for me to take the next step, plus the teams are very professional and it’s a very high level, so I think it’s definitely a graduation.” From Formula 2 to a professional series.

“There are only 20 seats in Formula 1 and I think there are a lot of people who take that route too far and sit as reserve drivers or development drivers and end up with nothing.” So I think if you come to Formula E, you can be in a very professional series and still improve yourself as a driver.

“And of course it’s a very high level because all the drivers at the front are very close to each other and are also former F1 drivers. So for me as a young driver I thought it was a good stepping stone and a good step for my career.”

Driving is a big deal for McLaren privilege’

Barnard is a quiet, reserved young man who still has a reserved exterior, but there is no doubt that he is a fiercely determined character, full of confidence in his own ability, a confidence that has only increased since his successful tenure as Bird’s replacement.

“I have no doubt in which style of racing I will really struggle or that it will take me away from the championship, but I have absolutely no doubt that I have the experience where I know I can do it and finish high, especially in the Berlin races which were so chaotic.

“Obviously it was a good weekend. It wasn’t actually the strongest weekend for us as a team, the car probably wasn’t on the pace we expected, so I think it was a good weekend to even get that good of a result while struggling with the pace a little bit. “It was definitely a positive development. and it was not an obstacle to the championship.

Although the McLaren name is new in Formula E, there is no doubt that it has a significant weight in all kinds of races. After taking the team’s first win in São Paulo last season, Sam Bird told Motorsport Week of his pride and emotion at having his name included in folklore, and Barnard admits that working for the team gives him extra excitement, but I’m not worried about the added pressure the Papaya race will bring.

“First of all, every time I go to the simulator in Woking to join a name like McLaren, let’s say you get in and you see the historic cars and the trophies and everything like that, I think about getting involved. It’s definitely a huge privilege and something I’m honored to be in a team like that.”

“To be honest, I’m not sure it would put too much pressure on me. It gives me some confidence to say that I’m in that environment and to be honest the NEOM McLaren team is very, very supportive.

“They’re helping me as much as they can and I’ve really enjoyed the environment I’ve worked in but I don’t think it will have any negative impact in terms of pressure and things like that.

Another similarity with Maloney is that, as with Lucas di Grassi, Barnard has significant experience on the other side of the garage at Bird, whose first year in single-seater racing was the year Barnard was born.

He believes that having a teammate of this quality can only bring benefits.

Formula E races ‘difficult but fair’

“Obviously Sam has been in the formulary from the very beginning, so he’s gotten all the experience; So he’s one of the most experienced drivers on the grid, right? So there are definitely things I can learn from him and take from him.

As previously mentioned, Barnard had to grasp the different nature of racing that Formula E brought. In an environment where no quarters are given and peloton-style racing is possible, Formula E drivers regularly showcase their skills, some more inclined to stick out their elbows, but Barnard is up for the challenge.

“Of course there’s very close wheel-to-wheel racing at every event. I think it’s potentially a bit harsh to say that some drivers are more unfair than others. Of course other drivers will blame them, but when you’re in the race and in the heat of the moment these things happen.

“In my experience, of course there are racers who are tougher than others, but I raced everyone in the front and midfield very, very tough, wheel to wheel, and it was tough but fair, and I think that’s something that made it so enjoyable. That’s why my Berlin experience was so special , because there was a lot of wheel-to-wheel racing, but it was very fair and made it very enjoyable as a driver, which is probably not what you want most if you come up against a more aggressive driver.

“But I think the championship as a whole is very fair and the driving is very nice.”

Barnard correctly predicted his last Formula E outing; So what are his chances of achieving his personal goals in his first season?

“Obviously I’m going to have to adjust my personal goals based on my performance, because you can’t go out and say ‘I want race wins if the package isn’t really there’ and we can’t do that.” , which will then turn into something negative.

“Despite our performance last year, I believe we can achieve very good results. I want a lot of points. But the target is definitely the podium and the win.”