Bird: “It just happens” after helping out McLaren FE teammate Bernard.

Sam Bird The belief that “what happens” is followed by support. mclaren teammates taylor barnardThe quest for a first Formula E podium in Sao Paulo.

McLaren left the Brazil season-opener earlier this month with double points as Barnard became the youngest podium finisher in the history of the all-electric championship by finishing one place above Bird in third.

The British pair had significantly more energy than the eventual race winners mitch evans and runner up Antonio Felix Da CostaBarnard and Bird had to slow down after facing an early drive-through penalty for use of excessive power.

In a chaotic race aided by two red flags for cycling to the front, Barnard’s progress was halted in the five-lap dash to the flag as he was “limited by the temperature and tire grip”.

The 20-year-old, who made just three appearances in place of the injured Bird last season, thanked his teammate for not challenging him in the closing stages as Bird claimed, “There may come a time When they have to take care of me.” ,

“Taylor is racing at such a high level for the first time, I think he wanted to get a podium. He’s fighting against Mitch Evans and Antonio Felix da Costa, who are two of the best players ever,” Bird told Autosport.

“I think he probably did the smart thing. A third and fourth from where we were, I didn’t want to put him under any unnecessary pressure because it was very good points for the team so there was no need for me to fix his gearbox.

“I could have, but there was no need so I’m happy to be fourth and what goes around goes around. There may come a time when he will have to take care of me.”

The double-digit finish moved McLaren to the top of the teams’ championship in a place where Bird has had much success in the past.

In two previous visits to the São Paulo street circuit, Bird had finished runner-up before taking the first visit to the McLaren, and so far the only Formula E to win last season after a last lap pass on leader Evans.

During the second red flag in this month’s race, Bird told his team over the radio that he would not challenge Barnard in order to give his teammate the best chance to win, even if at his own expense. Too.

“I just told the team I’m going to take care of him because he has more energy and can push to win,” Bird said.

“My thinking was if he pushed for the win they would come at me and we could maybe go 1-2 because I had 2% more than Mitch and Antonio, he (Bernard) had 2% more than me. Were.

“So I was thinking we’ve got a chance to get first and second here, if he comes after that I might get P2 or P3 but I think in the end he did the right thing.”