Formula E's rising star Taylor Barnard led NEOM McLaren to a historic podium finish at the São Paulo E-Prix, marking the team's first-ever Formula E championship lead. The achievement coincided with McLaren's F1 constructors' title, making it the first brand since Mercedes in 2021 to top both championships simultaneously.

Barnard, at just 20 years old, became Formula E's youngest podium finisher with his third-place finish. Despite facing early setbacks including a drive-through penalty for energy overuse, both Barnard and teammate Sam Bird strategically used the situation to their advantage during two red flag restarts.

The rookie's success has been bolstered by a strong mentoring relationship with veteran teammate Sam Bird, who has supported Barnard since his initial three-race stint as a replacement driver last season. The team's collaborative atmosphere has created what Barnard describes as a "proper family environment," ideal for nurturing new talent.

Bird, while celebrating the team's success, maintains a pragmatic outlook. "We've still got a lot of learning to do," he noted, emphasizing the need for operational improvements to maintain their competitive edge with the new GEN3 Evo car.

The team acknowledges areas for improvement, particularly in qualifying pace, while recognizing their strong powertrain performance. As they lead the championship, NEOM McLaren looks to build on this early success while addressing technical and operational challenges for sustained competitiveness in the season ahead.

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