This week, the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team will be heading to Berlin for the ninth and tenth race of Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Taylor Barnard will be driving the #8 car in place of Sam Bird following a successful operation to Sam’s hand.

Key info

“I’m looking forward to going back to Berlin this weekend. Our car has shown that it’s competitive this season and everyone in the team is pushing hard getting plans in place and on the simulator, to unlock all possible potential. After a tough weekend for all the team in Monaco, I’m ready to go racing again.” 

“I’m excited to head into my first full weekend racing in Formula E with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. Monaco was a great experience, and I can’t wait to put my learnings from it onto the track this weekend in Berlin. I was really glad to hear Sam’s surgery went well and I’m hoping he will make speedy recovery and be back in the car soon. Thank you again to the team for giving me this opportunity.” 

"The Berlin E-Prix, one of the classics on the Formula E calendar, is around the corner. We’re now exactly at the midpoint of the season, with eight races completed and eight more races to come. The recent races haven’t delivered us the result we are aiming for as a team. We’ve shown great pace, but haven’t always been able to translate that into good points. No better time to push the ‘reset button’ than now.

“The team have been focussed on understanding exactly why we have been unable to maximise the results, especially where the track should have played to our strengths.  

"Following Sam’s injury, resulting from an incident during the Monaco E-Prix, Taylor will be stepping back into the car in Berlin. Personally, I am looking forward to seeing what Taylor can achieve with more than just 20 mins warning prior to stepping into the car!

"Last week, Sam had a successful operation on his hand, supporting his journey back into the car. We’re looking forward to having Sam back in the car as soon as his recovery is complete.  

“I’m fully expecting Berlin to deliver some world-class racing and I can’t wait to get out on track.” 

Last time out

Sam Bird suffered an injury to his left hand after crashing in the final 10 minutes of Free Practice 1 on Saturday in Monaco, which ruled him out of the remainder of the weekend. This saw Formula E rookie and NEOM McLaren Formula E Reserve and Development Driver Taylor Barnard step in for Sam, with the Norwich-born driver making his debut in FP2. After Qualifying in 22nd, Taylor put in a brilliant debut performance during the race, climbing from the back of the grid up to 14th place. On the other side of the garage, Jake Hughes suffered a tricky afternoon. Qualifying 14th, he lost two places in the race and finished 14th.

With Jake and Taylor in the cars again for this weekend’s double-header in Berlin, we’ll be working hard to bounce back and make progress in the Teams’ Championship. We’re currently seventh with 63 points, four points off sixth. 

Teams' Championship

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