Formula E: Taylor Barnard stays! Fortescue Zero confirms first driver for Gen4 era

Taylor Barnard will remain with his current Formula E team as the championship enters the Gen4 era! The 22-year-old Briton will race for Fortescue Zero Racing in the 2026/27 season following the Australian company's takeover of the former DS Penske outfit. The announcement confirms the first driver for the new Jaguar customer team, while the second seat remains vacant.

Fortescue Zero Racing announced its first driver signing for the Gen4 era on Monday. In Taylor Barnard, the new Australian Formula E outfit has opted for a driver who already competed for its predecessor, DS Penske. Following Fortescue's takeover of the former Penske operation, the team is therefore initially prioritising continuity in its driver line-up.

Barnard raced for DS Penske during the 2025/26 season and celebrated his maiden Formula E victory at the season finale in London. Before that, he competed for McLaren in Formula E, establishing himself as one of the championship's most promising young talents and setting several records along the way. His Formula E career has also included multiple podium finishes and pole positions.

Barnard excited about fresh start with Fortescue Zero

"I'm incredibly excited to be joining Fortescue Zero Racing and to be part of building something from the ground up," says Barnard. "This is a new team with huge ambitions, and I want to help turn those ambitions into results on track."

The team's technological focus is particularly appealing to the Briton. Fortescue Zero has extensive experience in developing electric powertrain technologies and has been involved in Formula E for several years.

"Fortescue Zero has a strong history of developing high-performance electric technologies. I'm looking forward to working with the team and helping to push that technology further and faster than ever before," Barnard adds. "We know there's a lot of hard work ahead of us, but that's exactly what makes this opportunity so exciting. I can't wait to get started."

Team Principal Jim Wright sees Barnard as key figure

New team principal Jim Wright also considers Barnard an important part of the team's development. The experienced motorsport executive took charge of Fortescue Zero Racing at the end of September. "Taylor is exactly the kind of driver a new team wants to build around," Wright says. "He has already shown that he has the speed, discipline and race intelligence to compete at the front of Formula E."

Beyond his driving abilities, Wright particularly highlights Barnard's collaboration with the engineering team: "Barnard is young, ambitious and has enormous potential. Just as importantly, he understands how to work with engineers and extract every bit of performance and efficiency from the car."

"We're building a new team with big ambitions. Taylor is the first piece of that puzzle, and we're excited to see what we can achieve together," Wright adds.

Travis Hester, Fortescue Zero's Chief Technology Officer for Electromobility, also emphasises the Briton's importance to the team's technical development: "In Formula E, success comes from the combination of driver performance, energy management and technical precision. Taylor brings all three."

"He's a driver who can help us be competitive today, while also supporting our engineers in developing the technologies that will drive the next generation of electric innovation."

Fortescue Zero Racing to enter Gen4 era with Jaguar powertrains

Fortescue Zero Racing has emerged from the former DS Penske operation, which has been taken over by Australian company Fortescue. This marks Fortescue's first entry into Formula E as a team owner, although the takeover remains subject to the necessary approvals from the FIA and Formula E.

On the technical side, the team will switch to Jaguar powertrains. The British manufacturer will supply its Gen4 powertrains to Fortescue Zero Racing from the 2026/27 season onwards. Alongside the Jaguar factory team and Envision Racing, Fortescue Zero will therefore be one of three teams competing with Jaguar technology.

For Fortescue, becoming a team owner represents an expansion of its existing involvement in the all-electric world championship. The company's motorsport technology business traces its roots back to Williams Advanced Engineering and already supplies the technology behind Formula E's Pit Boost fast-charging system.

Second seat still vacant: Could Sebastien Buemi join?

With Barnard confirmed, Fortescue Zero Racing has filled the first seat in its driver line-up. The team has yet to announce who will partner the Briton in the upcoming season.

Sebastien Buemi has emerged as a potential candidate, with reports suggesting that the Swiss driver has held talks with Fortescue Zero. However, no agreement has reportedly been reached, and the team is understood to be considering other options. Following his departure from Envision Racing's race line-up, Buemi had originally been expected to take on an advisory and development driver role. e-Formula.news reported on the rumours surrounding a potential surprise Formula E comeback for the former world champion in early October.

Formula E's Gen4 era will begin on 18 December 2026 with the season opener in Jeddah.