Exclusive: Sam Bird aiming for podium and points as after a challenging start to Formula E Season 11

NEOM McLaren’s Sam Bird has faced a challenging start to Season 11 of Formula E. With just 21 points so far, he currently sits P18 in the Drivers’ Championship. In contrast, His rookie teammate has impressed, and holds P4 with 69 points going into the latter half of the Formula E season. In an interview ahead of the Shanghai E-Prix with Fastest Formula News, Bird reflected on his struggles and shared his key takeaways from the season to date.

McLaren’s teamwork as a highlight of Bird’s Formula E season so far

When asked about the highlights of his season so far, Bird pointed to the team’s strong pace and overall performance. These strengths, he noted, are evident when looking at teammate Taylor Barnard’s impressive rookie season. Speaking to Fastest Formula News, Bird admitted the season hasn’t been without challenges, including penalties and some inconsistency on his part. Despite a tough start, he looked ahead with optimism to the two upcoming races in China.

“So, the highlights have just been the general performance of the car and the team. I think we’ve been operating at a very high level.”

“Obviously, we’ve seen Taylor absolutely excel in what is his rookie season in Formula E and that’s been great to watch.”

“I think the difficulties from my side, I would say too many penalties, whether they’re harsh or not. That’s called penalties. And maybe a little bit more consistency on that side.”

“But with regards to pace, I think we’ve been fairly strong, especially in the races. We’ve been right there. And we’re now in Shanghai, looking forward to hopefully having two solid races.”

“Anyone can win” – Bird hopes for big points during Shanghai

Despite difficult weekends in Monaco and Tokyo, Bird pointed out that the pace had been there. Bird stressed that the pace had never been the issue. Mistakes had cost him valuable points, but he and the team had taken lessons from those moments. That, he said, gives him confidence heading into Shanghai, even daring to hope for a win.

“I mean, they were challenging in terms of points, but the encouraging thing is that the pace is very much there. So, continue on our process, learn from our mistakes.”

“And if we continue on the good processes, learn from our mistakes, the pace is there.”And I’m sure we’re very, very close to getting some big points in the very near future, hopefully on Saturday and Sunday.”

“Hopefully Saturday. It’s that simple in Formula E. On any given weekend, anybody can win. And if I have a good day for everything together, then that’s possible.”

Penalties a major factor in Bird’s current standings

Although Bird scored five points in Tokyo, he endured a points drought in the five previous races. While he initially finished in the points at the Jeddah and Miami E-Prix, penalties later stripped those results. He admitted Monaco and the first race in Tokyo were particularly tough, though race two in Tokyo showed some improvement.

“I mean, we say it’s a duck, but it’s challenging to say it’s a duck because actually Saudi, I finished in the points, got a penalty.”

“Miami, I finished fifth, got a penalty. Monaco, yeah, Monaco was challenging in terms of points. And then, yeah, Tokyo, race one, again, challenging.”

“Race two, yeah, it was okay. I felt like our strategy was a little bit compromised in race two, but come eighth and fastest lap was a step in the right direction.”

“As I said, the pace has been good. I don’t necessarily feel like we need to change too much. It’s not like we need to reinvent anything.”

“So, just looking forward to getting out there, executing some good free practises. And then, yeah, we know that we can race well.”

Points for the team remains top priority

When asked about his goals for the remainder of Season 11, Bird made it clear that while podiums would be a welcome bonus, his focus lies with helping Barnard and the team in the Teams’ Championship. Supporting the team’s goals, he said, remains his priority.

“Podiums, if I can get away and incredible, but podiums and help the team secure its best finish in terms of team’s championship.”

“I think that’s very important. Obviously, Taylor as well is going for a really decent position in the drivers. And if I can help out in any way, I, of course, will.”

“But I think both of us are driving for the team and we need to try and get further up the pit lane ready for next year.”

“Little introductions” always brought something new to Formula E

Looking back on his 11 years in Formula E, Bird shared his thoughts on the championship’s evolution with Fastest Formula News. He highlighted two major innovations and praised the ongoing yearly additions that keep the series fresh and forward-thinking. Most recently, he noted, the introduction of Pit Boost adds another dynamic layer.

“I think there’s two. I think going from Gen 1 to Gen 2, going from two cars down to one car was a significant change.”

“And it was the right message to send to the consumers, the sponsors and the people watching at home that we’re going in the right direction with regards to technology.”

“More recently, I’d say all-wheel drive, I think, is a super relevant, very interesting part of technology that we’re now running, which is great.”

“And I think Attack Mode has been a highly successful part of Formula E. We’ve now got the pit boost as well.”

“So I’d say these elements of Formula E have been key integral parts, and obviously some are newer than others.”

“But all of these little introductions every year to something new and innovative is very important for the continual expansion of Formula E, the growth.”

As the season heads into its final stretch, Bird remains focused on consistency, clean racing, and contributing to the team’s overall success. With strong pace and valuable lessons learned, he approaches Shanghai with quiet confidence—hoping to turn potential into results and end the season on a high.