Sam Bird will return to racing in Formula E this weekend in the double-header of the Shanghai E-Prix, having recovered sufficiently from a broken hand.
The McLaren team has been out of action since the beginning of May, after suffering the injury in the first free practice sessions of the Monaco E-Prix.
The 37-year-old entered the escape route of the Sainte Devote, leaving his hands on the steering wheel as the car hit the barrier, thus causing a fracture to his left hand.
The injury immediately ruled him out of the rest of the weekend in the Principality and he was also forced to miss the final double round in Berlin.
Returning to Great Britain the day after the injury, Bird underwent an operation on his hand, which among other things is the same one he fractured in the 2022 London round, which had already required surgery which had excluded from the final match in Seoul.
After working in the McLaren simulator last week, the team confirmed today that Bird will regularly start the two races in China this weekend.
“We are very happy to have Sam back in the car for the Shanghai E-Prix,” said team principal Ian James. “Sam demonstrated impressive dedication to his recovery and, following a successful operation, he was able to complete his normal simulation sessions.”
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
“As a result, both Sam and the team are confident that he is capable of fighting for the Shanghai race. We look forward to seeing Sam back on track.”
Bird, who claimed McLaren’s first Formula E victory in Sao Paulo earlier in the season, was replaced for the final three races by Taylor Barnard.
The Briton became the youngest regular driver in Formula E history when he made his debut in Monaco at the age of 19, having been told just 20 minutes before FP2 that he would replace the injured Bird.
After finishing his first race in 14th place and given more time to prepare for the Berlin E-Prix doubleheader earlier this month, Barnard achieved an impressive double points finish, taking 10th and then 8th place.
Barnard will now return to being McLaren’s reserve, combining this commitment with his Formula 2 programme, in which, however, he has not yet managed to score points.
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