McLaren to exit Formula E at end of season; fans eager for updates on Taylor Barnard and Sam Bird's future
McLaren has been one of the strongest teams in Formula E since joining the championship three years ago. However, according to the latest updates, the company will exit Formula E at the end of this season. The NEOM McLaren Formula E team currently features the youngest driver on the grid, Taylor Barnard, alongside the experienced Sam Bird. What the future holds for the two British drivers remains to be seen.
Why McLaren is pulling out of Formula E?
It has been revealed that McLaren's owners are planning to shift their focus towards Formula One — where they are currently leading the season — as well as IndyCar and their new hypercar project, set to debut in 2027 in the World Endurance Championship.
As per Reuters, McLaren CEO Zak Brown said in a statement, "The time is right to explore other opportunities that more closely align with McLaren Racing's overall strategic direction - including our 2027 entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship. For now, we are focused on setting this great team up for future success by working towards securing a new owner."
The
NEOM McLaren team
also shared a statement on its official Instagram account. It read: 'McLaren Racing confirmed today that following a strategic review of its racing portfolio the decision was taken not to continue our participation in the FIA Formula E World Championship beyond the current 2024/25 season.'
It further read: 'Work is already well under way to set this great team up for future success by working towards securing new investment. In the meantime, we remain fully committed to building on our strong start to the season and fighting for on-track success until the very last race.'
'Our heartfelt thanks go to the team for their continued commitment and dedication, and to Formula E, our partners, and our fans for their continued support.'
Expressing concern for the McLaren drivers, a fan wrote in the comments section of the post, 'Hopefully Taylor and Sam can find a new team cause it would be sad if they left the sport.' Another wrote, 'This is so sad! I hope not only our amazing drivers find their paths to keep around the sport but also the amazing team on the garage and back home. You will be missed papaya.'
Also Read:
Taylor Barnard shares first reaction after almost coming last at Miami E-Prix: 'Time to turn our attention to streets of Monaco'
As of now, Taylor Barnard is 4th in the Drivers' Standings this year with 3 podium finishes and 51 points. Meanwhile, Sam Bird is in 13th position with 16 points.
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