After being in Formula E since its inception in 2014, Sam Bird‘s journey seemingly came to an end following the 2024/25 season. With the Neom McLaren Formula E Team leaving the series, Bird was out of a seat. But he’s back! Today it was announced that in the upcoming 2025/26 season, he will be the reserve and development driver for the Nissan Formula E Team.
An Illustrious Career
Joining the Formula E grid in 2014 with Virgin Racing, Bird has seen all three generations of cars. Taking wins across the generations, he has been a title contender multiple times. Since joining the electric series, Bird has competed in 144 races. Scoring 27 podiums and 12 wins, he has the fourth-most wins in the history of Formula E.
His last win came in the 2023/24 season in São Paulo, Brazil. Since then, Bird has suffered injuries and poor results. The recent series was an uphill battle for Bird, and ultimately, he left the series along with the McLaren team.
But leaving the series wasn’t the end of Bird’s Formula E career. Ahead of the new season, he has teamed up with Nissan and will face a new role: reserve and development driver.
A New Journey
Neom McLaren was initially a customer team of Nissan. Considering his experience with the Nissan Powertrain, Bird is the perfect candidate to help them develop their GEN4 car.
Whilst he won’t be racing, he’ll be helping the team ahead of the new generation arriving in the 2026/27 season. Alongside their full-time drivers Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato, and simulator driver Abbi Pulling, they will be building on the team’s success to maintain its trajectory in the series.
Nissan and Bird Have Their Say
“He is one of the most experienced and successful drivers in the championship and has competed with our powertrain for the past two seasons, so there was really no question that he would be a great fit for the team.“ Managing Director and Team Principal, Tommaso Volpe, said as he welcomed Bird to the team.
Bird himself has expressed his feelings on joining Nissan, stating, “I’m extremely happy to be joining Nissan Formula E Team as the reserve and development driver for the 2025/26 campaign. I’ve worked closely with Nissan over the past two seasons, so I feel prepared as I know the Nissan Formula E powertrain well.“
Discussing his new role, Bird showed his respect for Rowland and Nato and explained how he’ll help the team. “I’ll help them in any way possible trackside and by aiding to further develop the current GEN3 Evo and future GEN4 car. The knowledge I have built up over the last two years will mean I can jump straight into the simulator and give feedback instantly, supporting the squad to build on its recent success in Season 11.“