NEOM McLaren announced that Sam Bird will make a return to the team for the upcoming double-header of the Shanghai E-Prix. Bird suffered a hand injury during the FP1 session of the Monaco E-Prix last month, which forced him to miss that race as well as the Berlin stages of the championship. Taylor Barnard, the team’s reserve driver and current competitor in the FIA Formula 2, replaced Bird in the papaya car during his absence and managed to finish all three races, securing points in both races in Berlin.
Prior to the Berlin weekend, McLaren Team Principal Ian James confirmed the news. In a statement released by McLaren, James expressed his satisfaction in having Sam back in the car for the Shanghai E-Prix. He praised Sam’s commitment to his recovery and mentioned that, after a successful operation, Sam was able to resume his regular sessions in the simulator. Both Sam and the team are confident that he is fully prepared for the race in Shanghai and are looking forward to his return to the track.
Bird will look to maintain the positive momentum he has experienced throughout Season 10, including his remarkable last-lap victory in Sao Paulo in March.
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