Formula E: Taylor Barnard hopes to return

      A few hours ago a post appeared on Zak Brown’s social media pages in which the CEO of McLaren Racing thanks his team that competes, or rather, competed in Formula E.

      Here is the full text: “It has been incredibly interesting to watch our Formula E team fight on the race tracks. I want to thank this very talented team for its determination and passion, and also for the many great moments we fondly look back on. In addition, a huge thank you to our wonderful fans who have supported us throughout this time.”

      If you didn’t know that earlier this year McLaren decided to wind down its program in the Formula E World Championship, you might think this was simply words of thanks. But, judging by the situation today, since a new investor for the team could not be found, it will simply be closed.

      For now, however, it is unclear what Taylor Barnard — who can safely be called one of the biggest discoveries of the year — will do next year. When he debuted for the McLaren Formula E Team in Monaco in 2024, replacing the injured Sam Bird, he was 19 and became the youngest driver ever to compete in the electric series.

      The 2025 championship was his first full season in Formula E, and he finished fourth in the drivers’ standings, reaching the podium five times and winning qualifying twice. If he had been a little luckier, he might even have made the top three.

      He also showed enviable consistency, which clearly points to genuine talent, but events are unfolding in such a way that Taylor is not yet guaranteed a race seat for next season.

      However, it is possible he could become Max Günther’s new teammate at DS Penske, though this is not confirmed. The thing is, Barnard already has agreements with that team, but they are slated for 2027. Naturally, the championship organisers have no reason to let such a bright driver miss a season sitting on the sidelines.

      Jean-Éric Vergne, who won both his titles with DS, could move to Maserati, replacing Stoffel Vandoorne, and that would create a vacancy in the team that Barnard would fill. This is reported by The Race, with the caveat that such speculation is based on the fact that Vergne’s contract is not with a specific team but with the Stellantis group, which owns both the DS and Maserati brands; however, Jean-Éric has not yet received any offers from his employers.

      Nevertheless, Taylor Barnard hopes that his situation will work out one way or another: “I hope to return to Formula E next season, because I love this championship, I like everything about it. The racing is very exciting, and as a driver I get a huge amount of enjoyment. Now I have the experience of one full season, and that should, of course, have a positive effect on my results. Overall, I’m optimistic about the future, and however it turns out, I hope to return.”