Sam Bird is not a retired racing driver. Make a clear note of that.
When he was generously and good-naturedly ambushed by every single one of his fellow drivers at the 2025 London E-Prix, and an impromptu photo opportunity took place as a kind of thanks and goodbye in the paddock, it was a bitter/sweet moment.
Sweet because it showed the immense level of respect and popularity of one of Formula E’s most successful competitors. Bitter because Bird was kind of being forced out of Formula E after the sudden demise of McLaren and the complex inability of that entry to be saved.
The optics were that he was bowing out of professional racing. But it was not what the true situation was.
He was then quickly snapped up by Nissan as a test and development driver, a role in which he has gained additional respect and gratefulness from the Japanese manufacturer.
News of his renewal in that role was not unexpected this week. But perhaps his contention for a seat with Formula E’s two newest teams should be.
The Porsche customer Fusion Formula E Team, still publicly not confirmed or launched, is believed to be closing in on its driver signings. In fact, they possibly may already be agreed, if albeit not absolutely signed. Bird’s renewal to Nissan suggests it won’t be him.
Yet, a team such as Fusion, so late to the party, and with several mountains to climb over the coming months would surely benefit from a driver of Bird’s pedigree and experience. So, could he still somehow be an option?
Drivers in development or reserve roles will generally have a release clause in their contracts should a race seat become available. Bird is highly likely to have one in his with Nissan. Bird’s Formula E race career therefore still could have a chapter left to run.
He’s not 40 until January and although generally Taylor Barnard got the better of him in his last season of 2025, Bird has several factors within him that would make him a good fit at the new team.
Certainly, one of those is that he helped Barnard so magnanimously and positively at McLaren. A consummate team player, Bird has also had a good amount of experience with the GEN4 car through his role at Nissan.
There is also a sense that the positive and progressive Bird is now back. He was very honest about some severe difficulties in his personal life that spanned the 2023-25 period, when it clearly affected his form and outlook. Now, happier and with a new born son, the motivation to prove his career still has more to give is clearly there.
The expanded Formula E grid is set with 12 teams and 24 seats. Five of which are still to be officially confirmed. The two at Lola are on the cusp of completion; the one at Jaguar TCs Racing was done long ago. But the two at Fusion? Well, it feels like there are plenty of twists and turns to come yet.
Bird is good at twists and turns. He’s a survivor, as well as an accomplished professional. Should his services be needed one last time, for a team that will have to establish itself in its first season, then he would be a very logical and stable choice.
