Sam Bird reluctantly had to abandon the last Formula E round in Monaco due to an accident in the first free practice session. In fact, about ten minutes from the end of the first session of the weekend, the Brit had blocked the front in Turn 1, better known as Sainte Devote, failing to slow the car down sufficiently before the barriers.
The car then hit the barriers at a high speed, while Bird still had his hands on the wheel. Similar to what happened to Robin Frijns in Mexico last season, the steering wheel immediately reacted violently, causing Bird’s wrist to also hit the inside of the chassis.
Although he got out of the car without help and returned to the pits on foot, further investigations revealed an injury that sidelined him from the race, with immediate fears that the injury could be even more serious than expected.
Sam Bird, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, e-4ORCE 04
Photo by: Andrew Ferraro / Motorsport Images
The injury occurred to the same hand that Bird broke during the 2022 London ePrix and which kept him out of the season finale in Seoul. After being taken to hospital in Monaco, further investigation unfortunately revealed a fracture to his left hand, which required surgery once he returned to the UK.
The Briton then underwent surgery earlier this week, which the team confirmed was successful without complications, while also hoping for a speedy recovery for a return to racing as soon as possible. The team’s hope is to have Bird back in time for the final races of the championship: after Berlin and Shanghai there will be a month’s break before the Portland event.
What is certain for now is that Bird will be forced to miss at least next week’s Berlin event, where he will be replaced once again by Taylor Barnard. The young English driver made his debut in Monaco replacing his compatriot and will return once again aboard the Woking single-seater for the German double round.
Team principal Ian James said: “We are very pleased to talk about the positive progress with Sam’s recovery, the operation on his hand went well and we hope to have him back in the car soon.”
Taylor Barnard, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, e-4ORCE 04
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
“Taylor did an amazing job when he was called up at the last minute in Monaco, as did the team, who provided him with great support throughout. He will now be able to take advantage of this experience, while Sam will work on his recovery, with the full support of the team. We can’t wait to have Sam back in the car soon.”
At the age of 19, Barnard became the youngest driver to ever take part in a Formula E race when he took part in last Saturday’s Monaco E-Prix, having been told just 20 minutes before the second session of free practice who would have replaced the injured Bird. Barnard clearly didn’t impress in qualifying, but managed to drive a solid race in the afternoon, finishing in fourteenth place, with some nice maneuvers among other things.
In the reserve role, the Briton was initially due to take part in the rookie test following the double-header in Berlin next weekend, 13 May.
#McLaren #Bird #undergoes #surgery #misses #Berlin #Barnard #replace
