McLaren Racing has introduced an growth in its Driver Improvement Programme with two new recruits and a second automotive in F1 Academy.
The Woking outfit at the moment fields one automotive within the all-female racing sequence, pushed by Ella Lloyd. The 20-year-old can be joined by Ella Stevens in 2026 in a second McLaren-backed automotive operated by Rodin Motorsport. Along with Stevens, McLaren has additionally signed Ella Häkkinen to the Driver Improvement Programme; she can be testing single-seaters in preparation for 2027.
“Whereas I recognise that extra stays to be achieved to extend feminine illustration in motorsport, I’m immensely happy with the progress we’ve made on this house,” McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown stated.
“I hope this alerts to all of the amazingly gifted feminine karters, drivers, engineers, mechanics, marketeers and accountants on the market that our sport is open to all and deeply dedicated to maintaining the unbelievable momentum we have now seen over the previous few years.
“There are such a lot of alternatives each at and away from observe and I need to thank NEOM for partnering with us on this house to assist us open extra pathways for girls. To now have three gifted younger feminine drivers in our Driver Improvement Programme is actually thrilling, and I can not wait to see them hit the observe.”
Ella Lloyd, Rodin Motorsport
Picture by: Andy Hone / LAT Pictures through Getty Pictures
Ella Stevens
At 19 years previous, Stevens is the one lady to win within the KZ2 karting class in the UK. The British driver secured the runner-up place within the 2025 British KZ2 Karting Championship.
Ella Häkkinen
Häkkinen, age 14, has turn into the youngest signing to McLaren’s Driver Improvement Programme. She is the daughter of two-time Formulation 1 champion Mika Häkkinen and has already loved a formidable begin to her profession, taking her first main worldwide victory on the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy in Cremona.
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