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It’s been a whirlwind 18 months for Taylor Barnard. In less than two years, the 20-year-old has transitioned from a junior racing prospect to a full-time Formula E driver via wins in Formula 3 and Formula 2 – not to mention an unexpected senior debut in the Monaco E-Prix.

He was only unveiled alongside Sam Bird a week ago but has wasted no time preparing for the step-up, spending several days at our bases in Bicester and Woking. Taylor visited the MTC many times during his spell as our Reserve and Development Driver, but arriving at our Woking factory for his first day as an official Formula E driver for NEOM McLaren “felt different”.

Speaking from the MTC, Taylor has just enjoyed a lengthy and productive spell in the Formula E simulator, with another stint to follow after lunch.

“When I was presented with the opportunity to sign with the team for the new season, I said yes straight away,” he recalls, smiling. “When I was leaving the pit lane as a professional racing driver in my first simulator session, it did not feel the same, even though it was the same car in the same simulator, on the same tracks.

“Coming in here, or ‘walking to work’, is really special, you walk down the Boulevard, you see the cars, the trophies and the history - it is really special to be working with this team. It is hard to describe, but I feel at home here, so the chance to work with everyone for a full season as a proper racing driver is very special. 

“I had my seat fit in Bicester, and now I’m here at the MTC in the simulator – it feels great to finally work with the team as a racing driver, albeit a little surreal. I am really happy.”

Still only 20 years old, Taylor became the youngest driver in Formula E’s 10-year history when he made his competitive debut in the Monaco E-Prix last season, at 19 years and 331 days, stepping in as an emergency replacement for the injured Sam Bird.

Despite starting from the back of the grid in Monaco, against much more experienced opposition, he was able to fight his way through the field to 14th. Remaining in the car for the following round, Taylor scored points in both races, finishing 10th and eighth.

Showing that he wasn’t afraid to get his “elbows out”, Taylor feels that the three races will have given fans a good idea of what to expect from him, while leaving his rivals in no doubt that he’s got the confidence to get stuck in straight away.

“I would say that I am quite clean, and quite consistent,” he responds when asked to describe his driving style, before caveating that with “But, in this type of racing, you need to get your elbows out and fight really hard. You saw in the energy-sensitive races in Misano and Portland that it can get very aggressive.

“I feel like I'll need to step up in that aspect and fight quite a lot harder than I am used to, but I'll definitely be determined, and I won't give up in races. I will take the fight to the people who perhaps won't like it from the new kid in the paddock. 

“I feel like those rounds I competed in last year in Formula E were helpful for me in terms of showing me what to expect from the first couple of races. I don't really have targets for what I want to achieve, we will see how development goes throughout the off-season, but I am definitely aiming high after last year.”

Taylor stepped up to single-seater racing in 2020 and swiftly started collecting honours as he climbed the ladder, finishing as vice-champion in the 2022 ADAC Formula 4 Championship and in the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship, before making the step up to F3 with Jenzer Motorsport.

After a slow start, as he adjusted to the more powerful machinery, Taylor ended the season as one of the series’ in-form drivers, clinching three podiums - including a maiden victory in the Spa-Francorchamps Feature Race - from the final four races.

His end-of-season form earned him a seat on the Formula 2 grid with AIX Racing for 2024, where he added to his trophy cabinet with a maiden win in the Monaco Sprint Race. It’s been a busy two years for Taylor, who combined this with Reserve and Development Driver duties for NEOM McLaren. 

“Whenever I’ve been working with the team, in the simulator, at track, or in the rookie tests, I’ve really felt at home,” he continues. “I would always get text messages afterwards thanking me for my work, and that really builds the connection between me and the team.

“I’m lucky to have worked with all of the engineers from both sides of the garage, as I did the rookie tests in Jake’s car and the races in Sam’s car. I’ve had a lot of support from everyone, and it feels like such a family. I think I’ve fitted in quite nicely. Stepping up, I don’t think much will change because I already know everyone well, and I really do feel at home.”

Taylor will be paired with one of Formula E’s most experienced and successful drivers in Sam Bird, who has competed in every season of the all-electric series to date, claiming 12 wins, 27 podiums, and six pole positions. 

Sam joined the team ahead of the 2023/24 season and will remain with NEOM McLaren for another year. The pair built up a bond during this period, and Taylor says he’s excited to continue learning from his teammate.

“Working with the team last year, I was speaking with Sam a lot and asking him a lot of questions,” Taylor says, “I was trying to digest all of the information that he could give me.

“Having someone as experienced as Sam can only be good going into your first full season. Moving forward, I feel that I’ll be able to help the team and share my own experiences on track with them.”

Heading into his first full season, Taylor won’t be setting any concrete targets, but does expect a lot from himself.  

“The fact that I have had a couple of races and have already got the basics is a positive,” he says. “I think, as any racing driver would say, that, going into a season, you are going to go in as hard as possible to achieve the most you possibly can. In this kind of series, where the racing is unpredictable, you must be consistent throughout the season.

“The expectations will come from me and not the team, but they are not set low, I will say that. They are very high, and I believe that I can do a good job. I’ll be making the most of the simulator days and of pre-season testing and working hard with the team to ensure we are where we want to be for the first race.”

NEOM McLaren will be back in action later this year, with pre-season testing and the debut of the GEN3 Evo car taking place on 4 – 7 November in Valencia before Round 1 of the 2024/25 season in São Paulo on 7 December.