While our Formula 1 and Extreme E seasons are drawing to a close, our Formula E campaign is kicking into life after we got back behind the wheel at pre-season testing in Valencia, and Team Principal Ian James was delighted to see us dust down our overalls and hit the track.   

The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team’s new-look line-up were in action around the Circuit Ricardo Tormo as Jake Hughes and Sam Bird clocked in 454 laps between them, with an additional 35 from rookie Taylor Barnard. The 2023 Formula 3 racer topped the timesheets at the halfway stage of the opening session, ending as the fastest rookie.  

The test was hampered by a fire in the paddock on the Tuesday, where thankfully no one was hurt. After an investigation, running resumed on Thursday afternoon with a four-and-a-half-hour session, followed by a 10-hour stint on Friday.  

The pre-season test was our first official track time behind the wheel since Season 9’s finale in London, and Team Principal Ian James was pleased with what he saw in Spain, praising the way in which the team maximised their running.  

“The test provided a great opportunity to blow away the cobwebs,” Ian said. “To make sure that the team and the operational side of things, the car and the drivers, are all ready and match fit for the start of the new season. 

“In terms of our preparation for that, it's ensuring that we've taken the lessons we learned from the previous season to fine tune our processes, and then making sure our preparation is at a level where we are getting maximum value out of the test. Despite the curveballs that were thrown at us during the test from an operational perspective, I think we’ve proven we’re in good shape.  

“The fact that we were able to do more mileage than any other team on Friday meant that we could also practice pit-stops and the garage turnarounds as well. We were able to complete 10 hours of testing without any real issues at all and that is testament to the preparation that had been done.  

“I'm very pleased with the work that the team's put in to get us here. Now, we need to focus on unlocking performance as we go into the new season.” 

The 2023/2024 season, which begins with the Mexico City E-Prix on 13 January, will be our second in Formula E after the NEOM McLaren Team made their debut this year. Our 2023 pairing of Jake and René Rast notched a podium and two poles between them, as the team finished eighth overall.  

Our debut season provided us with a solid footing with which to build upon, but the team will be looking to take a step forward in 2024, extracting more from our car and adding further silverware to our trophy cabinet.    

The team have been working hard behind the scenes at our electric racing base in Bicester, while Jake and Sam have been regular visitors to the McLaren Technology Centre, utilising our next-gen simulator for Formula E testing.  

“Performance is going to be key for us,” Ian continues. “It's fair to say that we didn't meet our expectations in Season 9, and we'll be looking to address that as we go forward into Season 10. To that end, we'll be working together with our supplier, Nissan, to ensure that we can use every lever possible to take a step forward in Season 10. Our aim is to finish in a better position than we did in Season 9. 

With René departing at the end of Season 9, we opted to draft in the experience and race-winning pedigree of Formula E veteran Sam Bird alongside Jake. Sam was officially announced in August and has spent the past two and a half months embedding himself within the team and building relationships ahead of his 10th year in the all-electric series.  

“Whenever you have new drivers starting, one of the key things is ensuring that they're well integrated with the team,” Ian continued. “For Sam, we've seen him not only hit the ground running, but add a huge amount of value to the team, and that's complimenting the input that Jake continues to give.  

“The reason Jake got the seat in the first place was because of his contribution to the team up until that point and the fact that we felt he had the talent to fight with any other driver on the grid. I think that the two of them are going to make a very potent combination and I'm excited to see what they can bring.  

“We will use the next couple of months to ensure that we can be as prepared as we need to be and to hone our skills. We've also got some new team members who've joined, and we'll be making sure they're fully up to speed. As always within motorsport, the winter season is one of the busiest periods, but the team has got stuck into it and is looking forward to getting the new season underway.”