Round 16 - London: Post-Race Interviews Capture the Raw Emotions of Formula E Season 11 Finale
/ Jul 28, 2025, 11:30PM IST
In this emotional post-race roundup from Round 16 in London, drivers open up about the final moments of Formula E Season 11. From joy and pride to frustration and disappointment, the interviews give an honest look into what it feels like when a season packed with highs, lows, and relentless pressure finally comes to an end. Whether it was a career-defining race or one filled with regrets, each driver shares their version of how it all unfolded. It's the kind of raw, unfiltered insight that brings fans closer to the heartbeat of the championship.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Ian James pens farewell letter to fans as McLaren exits Formula E: "We'll cross paths again soon"
Ian James with Taylor Barnard and Sam Bird (Image credit: Instagram) Team Principal Ian James of the departing Formula E team NEOM McLaren has penned an open letter to the fans of the team, marking their departure from the electric motorsport format. Addressing the Papaya Army, James thanked them for their trust and support as the team went on to win two Drivers' World Championships and two Teams' World Championships over 103 races in seven seasons. McLaren team principal Ian James pens open letter to fans Ian James began the letter saying that he wrote it with 'a huge amount of pride, as well as with more than a hint of sadness,' as the team closed the final chapter after seven years of competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Thanking the fans for their love on social media and at the track, he said, 'The team was always blown away by the amount of papaya we saw at circuits across the world, race-in, race-out, right from our very first round as the NEOM McLaren Formula E team. Through the early days, the good days, the bad days, and the great days, we have always felt an overwhelming amount of support from you all.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) For the partners associated with the team, he wrote, 'They say that 'racing is a state of mind', and since its inception, this team has had the privilege of working for organisations, with partners, and racing for fans who fully embrace this philosophy. This is certainly true of those at McLaren, whose passion for racing is second to none.' 'My heartfelt thanks go out to everyone who has been involved: those at McLaren who backed us, the fans who supported us, and the partners who allowed us to go racing. We couldn't have done it without you all — your trust and support have never been taken for granted,' he added. Praising the two McLaren drivers, he wrote, 'Sam clinched McLaren's first-ever fully electric win at the São Paulo E-Prix in Season 10, pulling off one of Formula E's all-time great overtakes, before being waved across the line by none other than Emerson Fittipaldi – McLaren's first Formula 1 World Champion. While Taylor has been a rookie sensation in Season 11, securing five Formula E records, including the youngest driver to start a race, the youngest points scorer, the youngest driver to lead a lap, the youngest podium finisher, and the youngest polesitter. ' He ended the letter saying, 'Some of us have been together since the day we first launched this team, while others have seamlessly fitted in along the way and flourished within the environment we have cultivated. For many, I am sure that we will cross paths again soon, but whatever the future holds for those here at Bicester, whatever path they choose to follow, I have no doubt that it will be bright. Their potential is limitless. ' Reacting to the open letter on Instagram, Taylor Barnard wrote, 'It's been an honour to wear Papaya and represent this team.' Sam Bird also dropped a heart emoji and a hands-joined-in-prayer emoji in the comments section. Also Read: Taylor Barnard looks back at rookie season at McLaren: 'Every step has been unforgettable' What's next in Formula E? Neither Taylor Barnard nor Sam Bird has revealed their future course of action in Formula E Season 12. It will begin on December 6, 2025, with the Sao Paulo E-Prix. It will be the longest season, with 18 races across 12 cities. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
The Assam connection in NASA-SpaceX's latest voyage to space
Nearly three decades ago, a friend excitedly called to tell me our fellow Assamese American, Jhuma, had gotten engaged…to an astronaut. Since the real Mike Fincke was in quarantine, we adorned NASA's cardboard cutout with a gamosa every chance we could.(S. Mitra Kalita) 'Is he Assamese?' I asked. 'How many Assamese astronauts do you know?' Good point. None. Like many of us second-generation Assamese born and raised on US shores, hers would be a blended marriage and, eventually, family. On Friday, Aug 1, at 11.43 am, the husband of Renita Saikia, my lifelong friend I've only ever called Jhuma, soared into space as a member of NASA's Crew-11, on a six- to eight-month mission. This week, I joined a few dozen of their family and friends at the Kennedy Space Center to wish Mike Fincke well. We began with a 'wave across' staged in a parking lot, a rope separating the four quarantined astronauts from loved ones, allowing us to say goodbye and good luck at a safe distance. We ended with the actual launch, the second attempt to send the SpaceX Dragon up after clouds and the threat of lightning thwarted the first try. In between were parties, photo ops, tours of space facilities, impromptu lunches and dinners, and late-night gatherings among disparate friend groups suddenly united. We infused these time-honored space traditions, though, with some of our own. Months ago, when Renita extended this precious invitation that comes with behind-the-scenes access to Kennedy Space Center, the astronauts, and the rocket launch itself, she did so not only because she's known me my whole life. Renita's father, Rupesh Saikia, emigrated from Assam in the 1960s, among the earliest pioneers of our tiny community on U.S. shores. He married Monju Aunty in 1966 and eventually settled in New Jersey, then Huntsville, Alabama. By the time my own father arrived in 1971, families like these were the ones who helped explain America, from foods and customs to bank transactions and mortgages. When my mom was pregnant with me, Renita's mother helped throw a baby shower combined with the Assamese ritual of panchamrit, blessings for the mother and child. As a child, I remember Renita coming over to color and play games with me and the long drives we'd take to go meet her family. 'I want you to be the Assamese rep,' Renita told me. 'The community has been so important for Mike and me…keeping some Assamese flavor in the mix would be so great.' And so I write these words, mission accomplished, with a sense of that obligation. It's really cool to attend a space launch, and I was aware of the privilege and once-in-a-lifetime nature of what I was experiencing. But at each and every event, I also felt an enormous responsibility to the many identities Mike and Renita straddle and inherit, and the one I happen to share. The Assamese infusion 'Do you know how to make that noise?' my friend Seebany Datta-Barua, another Assamese American at the launch, asked at the wave across. She was talking about uruli, the Assamese tradition of making a high-pitched sound by moving the tongue back and forth. We do this at weddings, festivals, moments of joy—and departures. 'I don't, but I can try,' I responded. And so we did. (It sounds like this) Seebany Datta-Barua holds a homemade sign in English and Assamese at an event for family and friends to wave goodbye to the astronauts.(S Mitra Kalita) Mike instantly responded by smiling in recognition, bowing his head and clasping his hands into a namaskar. My husband and I, Seebany, and her daughter also had very American signs spelling out M–I–K–E, but on the backside of one, Seebany had written, in Assamese, 'Mike, infinite blessings to you!' We planned our outfits to include elements of Assamese flair. On the day of a pre-launch celebration, we wore mekhela chadors, the signature two-piece Assamese garment. I hesitated, especially in Florida's 100-degree humidity, but my husband assured me the designs of the japi, an Assamese ornamental hat made of cane or bamboo, resembled flying saucers. Sold. We took NASA's life-size cardboard cutouts of Mike and adorned him in the ceremonial gamosa, a red-and-white cloth that we simultaneously use as towel, altar covering, offering and assertion of our identity.(S Mitra Kalita) This mission marks Mike's fourth journey to space, and he has taken the gamosa up before as one of his sentimental items. Sure enough, a NASA livestream commentator detailed why in the moments before he boarded the spacecraft: Mike Fincke's embrace of our people As Mike has learned, and my own husband too, to marry an Assamese—at least a certain type of Assamese—is to enter a community that is so unique and tight-knit, where everyone knows everyone else due to the smallness of our diasporic population, a complex collective that teeters between parochial and progressive. Because so few people know where we come from, we quickly learn how to define ourselves and how to fit in. Being Assamese, I maintain, allows us to traverse lands, languages, and cultures because there's a universality in being unknown. Except for the years he's been in space or quarantine, I see Mike at least once a year at our annual Assam Conventions. He and Renita make it a point to fly or drive from their home outside Houston, three children in tow, as a way of keeping tradition alive. My family feels similarly, and our children have often choreographed and danced the folk dance known as Bihu together. In the years he can't physically join, Mike still makes an appearance. In 2004, he called in from space—projected onto a screen in the hotel ballroom in Austin, Texas—to wish everyone well and perform a Bihu dance. Check out this clip that went viral in our communities across the world: When the cameras aren't rolling, though, I can attest to Mike's sense of respect for our culture and people. I see it in how he treats his in-laws and elderly people like my parents. I see it in how he springs into action when my own daughter, who now attends college in Houston, gets stranded after a flight cancellation and he does not hesitate to go collect her from the airport—at 2 a.m. These are the stories of immigrant solidarity, of community building, that many of us grew up with—but have waned in recent years. Some of it is understandable and more pragmatic (a taxi is a perfectly reasonable option from the airport) as our tiny Assamese population grows. But once upon a time, if you found a Kalita or Saikia in the phone book, chances were high that you would call as strangers and emerge as friends. In the decades I have known Mike and Renita—who, it's worth noting, also works for NASA—the behaviors I describe of immigrants are also traits I have come to associate with astronauts. I was reminded of it this week as the escorts NASA assigned to be with the families of the crew are astronauts themselves, in the unique position of knowing exactly the high stakes and high pressure and many emotions of a launch. I watched them carry suitcases, drive loved ones to and fro, soothe fears, cook comfort food, answer lay questions. The flat hierarchy and sense of service are remarkable—and necessary—and challenge the oft-held notion that the smartest people in the room aren't always the most compassionate. Here, intellect and humanity are equal ingredients for success. I walked away from this week with new appreciation for space travel as a means of understanding what it means to be human. Perhaps that study of said humans attracts the best humans in the process because their examination actually begins with themselves—and their daily actions. So how many Assamese astronauts do you know? I know a guy who comes pretty close. S. Mitra Kalita is a veteran journalist, author, and commentator. This piece is published in collaboration with URL Media, a network of community media.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Taylor Barnard looks back at rookie season at McLaren: 'Every step has been unforgettable'
Taylor Barnard (Image credit: Instagram) Taylor Barnard has penned a note of gratitude for his team, NEOM McLaren, which concluded its Formula E journey at the end of Season 11. He shared his experience of driving for the team and thanked his colleagues and fans for supporting him in his endeavour. It is yet unclear where Barnard and teammate Sam Bird will head next in Formula E Season 12, which begins with testing in October. Taylor Barnard pens note on his time at McLaren Taylor Barnard had a spectacular season in Formula E. After ranking third for some time, he ultimately finished fourth in the 2025 Formula E World Championship. This was his first year as a full-time driver for a Formula E team. Concluding his journey at NEOM McLaren, Barnard wrote on Instagram: 'What an incredible journey the past year and a half has been at NEOM @mclarenfe. From starting as Reserve and Development Driver to earning a full-time race seat, every step has been unforgettable. It's been a privilege to represent the McLaren name.' 'To the entire team, thank you for the faith you placed in me. Your hard work, support, and belief have driven me forward, and it's been a privilege to be part of such a dedicated and passionate group of people,' he added. Adding a note for his NEOM McLaren teammate Sam Bird, team principal Ian James, and the fans, Barnard wrote: '@sambird_official, your experience, advice, and support throughout my rookie season have made a lasting impact, both professionally and personally — I'll always be grateful. @ianjames, thank you for backing me from day one and giving me the chance to prove myself. I'm really proud of everything we've built together this year. ' Thanking the fans as well, he wrote, 'To the Papaya fans, your energy, loyalty, and encouragement have meant everything. I've felt your support at every race, and it never goes unnoticed. You're one of a kind. Thank you for everything, team.' Also Read: Nick Cassidy bids emotional farewell to Jaguar, calls them 'tough competitors' Taylor Barnard's rookie season was one to remember Taylor Barnard delivered a fantastic performance, holding third place in the Formula E Driver Standings until Nick Cassidy entered the top three and pushed him out. He secured five podium finishes in his rookie season in Formula E. Barnard finished third in Sao Paulo, Shanghai, and Tokyo, and claimed second and third places in the Jeddah double header. He ended the year with 112 points in the Driver Standings. For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
