Taylor Barnard will race for Fortescue Zero Racing in the 2026/27 Formula E season, as the British driver prepares to take on a new challenge at the dawn of the championship’s GEN4 era.
At 22, Barnard is already an established name on the Formula E grid. His move comes after Fortescue acquired the Penske Formula E team in September 2026, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the outfit. Following its participation in the championship since Formula E’s inaugural 2014/15 season under various identities, DS PENSKE will now give way to Fortescue Zero Racing as the series enters a new era.
A Fresh Start for the Brit
Barnard’s rise through Formula E has been rapid. He first made his mark in the championship as a replacement driver for NEOM McLaren at the 2024 Monaco E-Prix, demonstrating his potential against the series’ established competitors.
His performances earned him a full-time seat with McLaren for the 2024/25 season, during which he enjoyed an impressive campaign. Barnard secured five podium finishes, became the youngest podium finisher in Formula E history and finished fourth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Following McLaren’s departure from the championship ahead of the 2025/26 season, Barnard joined DS PENSKE, partnering Maximilian Günther. Although the campaign presented its share of challenges, the Brit finished on a high by winning the season-ending London E-Prix, becoming the youngest race winner in Formula E history.
Now, with DS PENSKE transitioning to Fortescue Zero Racing, Barnard will have the opportunity to build on that experience as the team embarks on a new chapter.
Why Barnard Makes Sense
At just 22 years old, Barnard represents a compelling long-term prospect for Fortescue Zero Racing. His performances over the past two seasons have demonstrated both his speed over a single lap and his ability to compete in wheel-to-wheel battles, establishing him as a driver capable of delivering strong results.
For a team entering a period of significant transformation, retaining continuity and championship experience could prove crucial. Barnard’s familiarity with the existing operation through his time at DS PENSKE should provide valuable insight as the team adapts to its new identity, technical package and competitive objectives.
His appointment also gives Fortescue Zero Racing a driver with considerable room for development. As the championship prepares to introduce its next-generation machinery, Barnard’s combination of youth, experience and proven race-winning potential could make him a key figure in the team’s long-term ambitions.
The Beginning of a New Era
The 2026/27 season will usher in Formula E’s GEN4 era, representing a significant step forward in the technological development of the all-electric championship.
Through its deal with Jaguar, Fortescue Zero Racing will gain access to Jaguar’s GEN4 powertrain, providing the team with a new technical foundation for the upcoming season.
The GEN4 cars are designed to deliver a substantial performance increase, with peak power of up to 600kW and permanent all-wheel drive among their defining features. These developments will introduce new challenges for teams and drivers alike, particularly in adapting to the cars’ increased performance and evolving energy-management demands.
For Barnard, the transition offers an opportunity to build on his experience in Formula E while adapting to an entirely new generation of technology. His ability to learn quickly and extract performance from unfamiliar machinery could be particularly important during the opening stages of the new era.
Barnard will first get to grips with the GEN4 machinery during pre-season testing in Madrid in November, ahead of the 2026/27 season opener in Jeddah.
With a new team identity, a new generation of cars and fresh technical challenges on the horizon, Barnard’s move to Fortescue Zero Racing marks the start of another significant chapter in his Formula E career.
