Hakkinen legacy endures as McLaren welcomes new female talents

13:57, 17 Nov

byTobia Elia

McLaren has announced the addition of two new female drivers to its Driver Development Programme, including the daughter of two-time world champion Mika Häkkinen.

Joining F1 Academy driver Ella Lloyd will be Ella Stevens, who recently finished as Vice-Champion in the 2025 British KZ2 Karting Championship, becoming the only woman to win in the UK’s top karting category.

The second addition is Ella Hakkinen, who at just 14 becomes the youngest female driver ever to join McLaren’s programme with the aim of testing single seaters in preparation for 2027.

Stevens will join Lloyd next year as the second driver in F1 Academy, the all-female category sponsored by McLaren alongside the other Formula 1 teams.

Ella Stevens, Ella Lloyd and Ella Hakkinen - Photo: McLaren F1 Team

McLaren CEO Zak Brown commented on the news: “While I recognise that more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport, I’m immensely proud of the progress we’ve made in this space.

“I hope this signals to all the amazingly talented female karters, drivers, engineers, mechanics, marketeers and accountants out there that our sport is open to all and deeply committed to keeping up the incredible momentum we have seen over the past few years.

“There are so many opportunities both at and away from track and I want to thank NEOM for partnering with us in this space to help us open more pathways for women. To now have three talented young female drivers in our Driver Development Programme is really exciting, and I cannot wait to see them hit the track.”

Hakkinen tips daughter Ella for bright future in racing

The two-time F1 champion, who won his titles with McLaren in 1998 and 1999, has high hopes for his daughter Ella, even at such a young age.

At only 14, Ella Hakkinen secured her first major international victory at the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy in Cremona, going on to achieve further wins and podiums across Europe.

Häkkinen revealed that both of his children, Ella, 14, and Daniel, 11, are supported by a dedicated fitness coach who manages their physical training full-time.

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