Taylor Barnard: “To be also the youngest winner and champion in Formula E!”

Where does this passion for motorsport come from? Tell us about your early years in karting and single-seaters.

I think my passion for motorsport came from watching F1 Grand Prix races on TV with my parents in Norwich. Becoming a driver was a dream I had throughout my childhood. I started karting at the age of eight at the Trent Valley Kart Club with some success. I won the Kartmasters British Grand Prix twice, the LMG Series in the Cadet category before clinching the Super 1 National Championship title in 2017.

You quickly crossed borders to compete at European and world level.

At 14, I was able to race in OK Junior and won the WSK Final Cup at the end of the year. I was then spotted by former F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg and my career took on a new lease of life when I joined his Formula One World Champion's Racing Academy. I finished runner-up in the World Karting Championship twice in a row in 2019 and 2020, and I won the WSK Champions Cup and the WSK Open Cup.

That year, you also made your debut in single-seaters.

I competed in three F4 races in Italy before competing in the ADAC Formula 4 Championship in Germany the following season, then winning my first F4 UAE race in Abu Dhabi in early 2022. I finished runner-up in the F4 championship in Germany before competing in the Middle East Regional Championship, where I again finished runner-up behind Kimi Antonelli, who now races for Mercedes in F1. The following year, I raced in FIA F3 with ups and downs, scoring one victory and three podium finishes before moving up to FIA F2 with AIX Racing in 2024. I won the Sprint Race in Monaco, one of my greatest victories.

Halfway through the season, you switched to Formula E.

I discovered Formula E during a pre-season test in 2023. For me, Formula E was the best opportunity at that point in my career. F1 is too exclusive and requires huge resources. I didn't have all that. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is becoming increasingly competitive, and I've been very happy there for the past two seasons. The cars are improving year after year, and I can't wait to drive the GEN4 with its 800+ horsepower next season.

You are the new prodigy of Formula E. Tell us about your spectacular debut in this series.

It was in Monaco in 2024, with the NEOM McLaren team, where I was a reserve driver. I replaced Sam Bird at short notice, who had injured his hand in FP1. On this very special circuit, I qualified 22^nd and finished the ePrix in 14^th place. At 19 years and a few months old, I was the youngest driver ever to compete in a Formula E race. In Berlin, I finished 10^th and was the youngest driver ever to score points.

So you secured a seat as a regular driver with McLaren the following year.

That's right. In Sao Paulo, I started from 17^th place and finished third. Then in Saudi Arabia, I took pole position in Race 2. At 20 years old, I am both the youngest pole sitter and the youngest driver on the podium in Formula E. But I haven't won an ePrix yet! That's the goal for this season...

This year, you joined the DS Penske and TotalEnergies team. What are your ambitions?

It's a prestigious team with all the strength of the DS Automobiles brand, Penske Autosport—a name that commands respect in motorsport—and illustrious partners such as TotalEnergies. I am very proud to wear the team colors alongside such an experienced driver as Max. I want to win my first race and, why not, aim for the title. Being the youngest winner and champion in Formula E wouldn't be bad, would it?

Are you familiar with the TotalEnergies Company and its involvement in motorsports?

Yes, of course! ELF and TotalEnergies are inseparable from the world of motorsports. As a huge fan of Ayrton Senna, I remember the images of his first victory in his black Lotus with John Player Special, Renault, and ELF written in gold letters. When I started karting, I used to watch the Renault F1 cars in ELF colors on TV on Sundays. I am aware of the TotalEnergies Company’s involvement in the World Endurance Championship with Peugeot and Alpine, and today I am very proud to wear these colors on the black and gold No. 77 car... just like Ayrton's!