Saturday, 27 April 2024

Hear from NEOM McLaren Formula E Team drivers Jake Hughes, Taylor Barnard, and Team Principal Ian James after the 2024 Monaco E-Prix.

Taylor Barnard

Free Practice 2	1:31.699	P22
Qualifying	1:32.323	P22
Race		P14

“It was an unexpected day for me in Monaco. I woke up this morning not knowing that I was going to be driving this weekend. I’m wishing Sam a speedy recovery.

“I jumped into the car for FP2, and the car was a bit damaged, which hampered my start. However, it was a decent stepping stone to Qualifying. Qualifying was tough, and I wasn’t able to pull off my second push lap as well as I hoped. However, it was a good learning opportunity as I got more used to the car. 

“I started the race from the back. Ahead of me, there were some crashes and incidents, which led to a lot of bodywork and debris on the track. Part of the plan was to stay out of trouble, keep the car clean and save as much as energy as possible at the beginning.  

“It ended up paying off, as I finished in P14, good on energy and I think I managed the race well. The team made me feel very comfortable and I had no issues jumping straight into the deep end. A big thank you to the team for giving me the car and the opportunity.”

Free Practice 1	1:31.345	P4
Free Practice 2	1:30.492	P14
Qualifying	1:31.370	P16
Race		P16

“It was a difficult race. In Free Practice, we were looking quite competitive - every time we did a lap I was towards the front of the pack. Therefore, we went into Qualifying with some confidence. However, we made an error with the tyres and as I was called in to weigh, which cost us the chance to do an extra lap.

“At a track such as Monaco, when you start near the back, you’re on the back foot. In this race especially, there was a lot of debris, and many cars were getting front wing damage. I was one of those cars, came in for a new wing, and then was involved in an incident on track which led to me receiving a five-second penalty.

“Underneath, our car was competitive. However, our Qualifying and therefore grid position really cost us today. We’ll keep pushing and doing what we can to put us in the best possible position for Berlin in two weeks.

“I also want to wish Sam a speedy recovery. It’s a tough situation and I hope to see him back in the car very soon.” 

“Another tough weekend for the team, as we leave Monaco without scoring any points. There are a number of reasons for this, but the day has been dominated by the incident in FP1, which resulted in Sam’s injury to his hand and inability to continue in this event. We will have to wait for a more thorough investigation into his injury next week, but it is clear that he will need time to heal before returning to the track.

“Despite the challenge, I want to highlight the superb job done by Taylor in stepping in at the last minute and performing with a maturity and composure which underscores his talent. He held his own in what transpired to be a typically chaotic race. The experience which he has gained today will be invaluable both for his future progression, as well as for his input to the team’s development.

“As for the overall result, we have a lot to unpick, in order to understand why we have been unable to maximise the results at a circuit which – on paper – should have played to our strengths.

“Finally, I wish Sam a speedy recovery. The team will be supporting him and his recovery as best as possible, to ensure he can compete again as quickly as possible.”

Championship Standings

NEOM McLaren Formula E Team – P7 (63 points)  

Sam Bird – P8 (38 points) 

Jake Hughes – P11 (25 points) 

Taylor Barnard – P23 (0 points)