Taylor Barnard has turned down the chance to race for Arrow McLaren in the IndyCar Series to continue racing in Formula E, Motorsport Week can reveal.
The British youngster has lit-up the all-electric championship this season, taking five podium finishes and two pole positions, and sits third in the Drivers’ Championship with 112 points.
But opportunity to build on his splendid debut campaign appeared in tatters, when it was revealed his NEOM McLaren team had decided to pull out of the championship at the end of the season.
With the team bowing out and seemingly unable to find a buyer, FE will now see one less team on the grid next season, leaving Barnard out in the cold.
However, Barnard, as reported by The Race, has signed a deal with Penske’s Formula E operation, meaning he could potentially drive for the team next season alongside Maximilian Guenther.
But Motorsport Week understands that the McLaren brand was so desperate to keep hold of its rising star, that it offered him a seat with its IndyCar squad.
However, Barnard turned down the prospect, as well as a seat in its upcoming WEC Hypercar programme, which is due to commence in 2027.
Barnard has had a superb debut season, and could finish runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship. Image: Alastair Staley/LAT Images
The 21-year-old sees his future in FE, having proved that he has all the necessary attributes to achieve big things in the highly competitive series.
Rumours have also surfaced that McLaren’s Team Principal Ian James is set to replace James Barclay as boss of Jaguar TCS Racing, who is heading, ironically, to McLaren to oversee the WEC project.
Speculation that has dovetailed into this is that James, upon reaching an agreement with the Coventry-based squad, offered Barnard a drive, to replace the Stellantis-bound Nick Cassidy.
But Barnard also turned this down, apparently convinced that the Penske switch was the right one for him.
With former mentor Oliver Rowland now crowned the World Champion, Barnard’s title chances are over, but could finish second.
Just 13 points separate him and Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein, with just the two races in front of home fans in London left, which would cap off a splendid debut season.
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