DS Penske’s Taylor Barnard claimed he was “speechless” after claiming his maiden Formula E victory in London. The British driver stormed to victory around his home track, handing DS Penske their first win since Shanghai last year.
The fairy-tale end after a challenging season for DS Penske
Barnard’s victory in London could easily be described as a fairy-tale ending for him and his DS Penske team.
By his own admission, 2026 has been a “tough season” where points and podiums have slipped away from them. Prior to London, the British driver’s best result was fourth way back in Round 2 at Mexico City.
Victory though saw Barnard leap up the Formula E championship standings, finishing 19 points adrift of Sebastian Buemi in tenth.
“I think my confidence has been good all season. It’s just the package that we’ve got is never really good enough in the races,” he explained.
“It’s been a long learning process already,” Barnard said as he reflected on his second season in the all-electric category having jumped to DS Penske ahead of 2025-26 after NEOM McLaren departed Formula E.
“I’ve now got two complete seasons in Formula E under my belt and it’s been a long learning process. Obviously the longer I’m going, the more experience I’m getting and the better I’m getting generally at the races.”
Converting qualifying pace into race pace had been a gremlin of the 22 year-old’s all season. Prior to the final London round, the DS Penske driver had only bettered his starting position five times out of a possible16 races.
Starting sixth behind championship contenders Mitch Evans and Pascal Wehrlein was always going to factor into the British driver’s strategy.
A late attack mode deployment, allowed Barnard to muscle past Mortara and De Vries to lead with two laps remaining.
“I think playing around the championship games was obviously important,” Barnard deduced when asked what the key to victory was.
“As soon as I got into P3 and I had Antonio behind me I knew there was going to be some games going on so it almost felt like a podium secured at that point.”
A long time coming for the youngest Formula E race winner
The closing round in London marked Barnard’s 36th race start having made his debut back in Season 10 as he stepped in for the injured Sam Bird in Monaco.
Since then, five podiums and two poles had come the 22 year-old’s way but victory remained elusive.
A standout performance in São Paulo for McLaren in the opening round of Season 11 put the then 20 year-old firmly on the lips of everyone in the Formula E paddock.
Having started 17th and slipped back at the start the British driver produced a stunning display to storm into the podium places at the chequered flag, claiming a maiden podium.
Along with a maiden podium, Barnard re-wrote the Formula E history books, becoming the youngest podium sitter in history.
That record was added to the youngster’s accolades having already claimed the record for youngest driver to start a race in Monaco the previous season and youngest points scorer in Berlin.
Fast-forward to London and Barnard has added youngest race winner to his list of records something he claims is “unbelievable.”
“I’m speechless,” Barnard said at the end of the race. “To do it in front of my home crowd and at the last opportunity too.”
“It’s unbelievable, I can’t believe it.”
Heading into the new GEN 4 Era the question now is can the young sensation produce a championship challenge and add youngest world champion to his list of accolades.
