McLaren Expands Female Driver Program, Signs Ella Hakkinen
McLaren is expanding its F1 Academy program to two cars and has signed Ella Hakkinen, Mika Hakkinen's daughter, to its female driver development initiative. This move, alongside the addition of Ella Stevens and continued support for Ella Lloyd, signifies McLaren's enhanced commitment to nurturing female talent in motorsport. The F1 Academy series also sees all 10 F1 teams renewing their sponsorship and upcoming rule changes to allow longer participation, aiming to deepen the talent pool.
McLaren is significantly bolstering its commitment to female driver development, expanding its F1 Academy presence to two cars next season and bringing Ella Hakkinen, daughter of two-time F1 world champion Mika Hakkinen, into its program. This move comes as F1 itself reaffirms its dedication to fostering female talent in motorsport.
Why it matters:
- McLaren's expanded involvement, particularly with a name like Hakkinen, elevates the profile of female participation in motorsport and the F1 Academy series.
- It underscores a growing industry-wide commitment to diversify the talent pipeline, moving beyond traditional male-dominated structures.
- The long-term vision, including rule changes in F1 Academy, indicates a strategic approach to creating sustainable career paths for aspiring female drivers.
The details:
- Expanded F1 Academy Presence: McLaren will field two cars in the F1 Academy next season, up from its previous commitment. Both entries will be run by Rodin Motorsport.
- One car will feature existing F1A driver Ella Lloyd, who continues for her second year in the series. Lloyd currently sits third in the 2025 championship standings with one victory.
- The second car, under the McLaren Oxagon banner, will be driven by Ella Stevens, a new addition to McLaren's driver development program.
- Ella Stevens' Background: Stevens was the runner-up in this year's British KZ2 Karting Championship and topped the inaugural F1 Academy rookie test. She is set to make her single-seater debut in 2026.
- Ella Hakkinen Joins: 14-year-old Ella Hakkinen will join the McLaren program as part of a two-year preparation for her transition into car racing, with her single-seater debut planned for 2027.
- Industry-Wide Commitment: Last week, all 10 current F1 teams renewed their commitment to sponsoring cars and drivers in F1 Academy on a "multi-year" deal.
- Cadillac, set to enter F1 in 2026, has also pledged to join the F1 Academy grid as a sponsor in 2027.
- F1 Academy Rule Changes: To deepen the talent pool, F1 Academy rules will be amended from 2027. Drivers who competed in 2025 and 2026 will be granted an exemption to race for a third year, lifting the current two-season cap.
The big picture:
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown emphasized that while progress has been made, "more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport." He hopes McLaren's deepened commitment sends a clear message that the sport is "open to all" and dedicated to maintaining the "incredible momentum" seen in recent years.
What's next:
McLaren's dual approach – nurturing immediate talent like Lloyd and Stevens while investing in future stars like Hakkinen – signals a comprehensive strategy. The ongoing support from F1 teams and the strategic rule adjustments within F1 Academy are crucial steps toward building a more inclusive and competitive future for women in motorsport, with the aim of eventually seeing female drivers reach the highest echelons of racing.