Bird was discovered to have damaged his hand after an incident in Free Practice 1 on the 2024 Monaco E-Prix, which noticed the Brit lock up and hit the wall within the run-off space at Turn 1, Sainte Devote.
NEOM McLaren confirmed the harm in an announcement after the session, as soon as Bird had been examined and despatched to hospital for additional checks.
“The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team can affirm that Sam Bird won’t be collaborating for the rest of the Monaco E-Prix. Following his on-track incident, there are indicators of a possible hand harm, which wants additional medical consideration.
“Sam will likely be going to hospital for an x-ray to assist make clear the character of the harm. As a consequence, and pending approval from the FIA, Taylor Barnard will likely be stepping in for Sam for the rest of the occasion, driving the #8 automobile for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team.
“The group are already making ready the #8 automobile prepared in time for FP2 following the injury. Further updates will likely be supplied through the group when these change into available.”
Rapid rookie
Rookie Barnard will make his debut, then, within the Monaco E-Prix Round 8, having final turned a wheel a fortnight in the past in Misano’s Rookie Free Practice session – in which he finished top.
Barnard, from Norwich, England, entered single seater racing in 2020. Since then, he has change into the 2022 ADAC Formula 4 runner-up, in addition to the 2023 Formula Regional Middle East Championship runner-up. In 2023, throughout his debut season in FIA Formula 3, he took his maiden victory within the championship at Spa-Francorchamps and completed the season tenth within the Drivers’ standings. He has now moved as much as FIA Formula 2 for the 2024 season.
Taylor obtained his first style of Formula E racing in October 2023, having pushed for the group as a rookie driver through the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Valencia Pre-Season Test. Since then, he’s change into an integral a part of the group in his function as Reserve and Development Driver for NEOM McLaren.
