Taylor Barnard has told Motorsport Week that his future in Formula E is somewhat uncertain, amid the impending exit of DS Automobiles, but revealed that multiple unnamed teams “are interested” in his services.
The British hotshot has made a stunning impact on the all-electric championship, having impressed since his unplanned cameos for McLaren two seasons ago.
And when he was handed a full-time seat for Season 11 with the now-defunct papaya outfit, his stock rose higher, with two pole positions and five podium finishes.
The consistency in his form saw the 21-year-old sit in higher echelons of the championship for most of the season, eventually finishing in fourth place.
With his availability pricking the ears of many teams previously, it was DS Penske that won the race to secure his signature, DS’ decision to switch attention to Sail GP has left the American half of the team looking for a new partner.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week at the Gen4 Unleashed event at Paul Ricard, Barnard explained that teams are still seeking him out, but is confident that he will find a way through it without the need to switch to a new employer.
“I don’t really know that much to be honest I would like to know more about what’s happening for the future, especially with the car [Gen4] being a massive step from what we’ve got this year,” he said.
“I’m not really that worried, because I feel like the job I’m doing personally driving and everything else is is good, so I’ll keep my head down and focus on – that’s by far the most important thing.
“Other teams are interested. I think after McLaren had gone, there was a few interests then and after this year there’s even more with the year’s experience, so I’m not worried that I will not have a seat next year.
“I never want to say ‘safe’ because it feels like I’m taking a step back – I’m always pushing 100% – but I have no concern that I will be without a seat. I think I will be driving.
“Where it is [and] what I will be doing is completely unknown – that’s that’s a complete transparent view and yeah, I mean I hope to be sorted soon because the generation of car is a very big step and I want to be able to drive it as soon as possible of course it’s the first time I’m seeing it here now.”
Taylor Barnard aiming to ‘stay put’ with Penske provided it finds a new Formula E partner
The situation DS’ exit has created is now a complex one, as both Barnard and teammate Max Guenther have contracts with Penske, rather than Stellantis.
Naturally, that means that Barnard’s future, in terms of effectively staying put, hinges on whether Penske finds a new partner, which Motorsport Week understands it is with utmost proactivity.
It is without a doubt the first choice in Barnard’s mind, who has, despite results not going his way as much as they had with McLaren, firmly settled in well in his new surroundings.
“That’s the plan [staying put],” he said. “The team – I mean they’re extremely experienced most of the guys from from Jaguar which built the success they’re running on now – [and] Phil of course he’s got a massive history, he knows what he’s doing.
“I think the team generally the team I’ve got around me is really incredible, so it’s not something I want to lose and change again because changing that every year it takes a few races to really understand how it all works.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a great team around me and I want to continue with them, but I don’t think anyone’s really in control of that.”
News of DS’ decision to pull out of FE will have no doubt pricked the ears of many a team, as Barnard is without one of the championship’s biggest new talents, having broken multiple records due to what he has acheived already at such a young age.
Motorsport Week understands that it is likely that those potential suitors may be disappointed, as Penske is likely to have options to remain on the grid, just potentially in new colours.
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