Taylor Barnard has spoken to Motorsport Week ahead of his second FIA Formula E race weekend as he continues to stand-in for the injured Sam Bird for NEOM McLaren.
The 19-year-old won the plaudits of the FE paddock and beyond after finishing 14th in Monaco, having been called to drive the car 20 minutes before FP2, after Bird fractured a bone in his left hand in the morning.
After that race, Barnard told Motorsport Week that the team put no pressure on him, given the short notice of his call-up, and the brief has not particularly changed.
“Same thing, really,” he says.
“Learn as much as possible – if we can get some points, great, if not, learn as much as we can.
“Just have a positive weekend in terms of let’s not make any silly mistakes, do the basics right and just learn as much as possible from my side, really.”
Barnard was also remarkably calm about driving at Monaco, for it was a track he had already raced at before. What are Barnard’s thoughts on the Tempelhof circuit in Berlin, which is a different animal, a proper Formula E style track?
“Well, the surface, first of all, is very different.
“Obviously, concrete and not a typical racetrack kind of surface, so that’s something that’s going to be quite a lot different.
Barnard is not short of confidence when it comes to his own personal goals for this weekend.
“My own personal expectations, I would like top ten, I would like some points.
“If it’s just P10, I’m also happy with that, but, again, if I can have a good race, just move forward and learn something, that’s also a positive result in terms of my expectations.
“So, in terms of a result, top ten would be happy, but the main focus is just to move forward and learn quite a lot.”
The Nissan powertrain has, for some, been the most unpredictable of the season, notably the works team’s driver Oliver Rowland, who has often commented that on races he has not expected the car to perform, it has. Has Barnard observed this in the customer McLaren?
“Honestly, me being in the situation that I’m in, it’s quite hard for me to try to read the team in that kind of way, I’m not really sure.
“Obviously, if the car is able to do it, then we’ll go and do it.
“We’ll do the best job that we can but I’m not really in that kind of position to read the team in that way.”
Given the whirlwind around Barnard’s debut and now a firmer, planned weekend, he has remained remarkably mature and levelheaded, and whilst he has a less of an understanding of the team being the reservist for them, he is hopeful of learning more as races are under his belt.
“I’ve done a couple of race weekends, but it’s always a different weekend as a race driver.
“It’s not the same, and even Monaco, I would say, I didn’t have these days like I have right now.
“Preparing and getting all the build-up as a race driver, so all of the meetings, obviously, I was there paying attention, but I don’t get the same kind of feedback and the same reaction as a race driver would.
“I guess every weekend that I would do as a race driver, I would be able to grow a little bit more in that aspect, in terms of inside the team.
“But, yeah, I’m comfortable in the team everyone is very supportive and very helpful, so it’s not an issue on that, and I think it’s just I need a bit more time, really – I think that’s the thing.”
If Barnard performs well in Berlin, his stock will rise further, and then there may come the opportunity of a full-time drive, but with his drive in F2 with the PHM Racing team also providing a great opportunity and career path, Barnard may be faced with a dilemma. However, he is taking things on season at a time.
“I’m 19, I’m still growing as a driver, so at the moment, to think about a long-term career in anything, I think, is quite difficult – I don’t see myself anywhere for the next ten years, so I don’t really know.
“I need to grow a little bit more and learn a bit more and try to establish myself as a driver first, whether that means I do another year in F2 to try to have that little bit more progression or a bit better results, or that I do get the opportunity and spend the next five years in Formula E?
“I don’t really know what the future will hold for me in that aspect, my goal is just to learn as much as possible and keep growing as a driver, and I think that’s something that would be thought about either later this year or next year.”
There is not doubt that there are drivers in motor racing who are far older than Barnard who seem less comfortable talking to the media and are less assured of themselves. If he translates that attitude to the track, the world of motorsport will be hearing lots more of this young man.
