Ella Stevens and Ella Häkkinen join McLaren in the Junior Academy

Mclaren racing Ella-izes! After supporting the British Ella Lloyd in F1 This season, the Woking-based team's junior program is expanding: two new recruits are joining the program, notably to drive the second car Papaye, who will be competing in the F1 Academy in 2026. The two newcomers are named… Ella. Ella Stevens and Ella Häkkinen officially join the Woking ranks.

McLaren is showing its ambitions for its junior program. British driver Stevens is thus the first woman to have won in the top category of Formula 1. karting British. The 19-year-old British KZ2 karting vice-champion will drive the second Papaye single-seater in the F1 Academy in 2026 in collaboration with Rodin Motorsport.

As for Ella Häkkinen, daughter of the two-time Formula 1 world champion, she distinguished herself by securing her first international victory at the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy in Cremona, among other wins and podium finishes. At just 14 years old, the Finnish driver thus becomes the youngest driver in the McLaren program.

Committed to supporting the next generation of females in motorsport 🤝

Welcoming Ella Stevens, who will run in our second F1 Academy car from 2026 alongside Ella Lloyd, and Ella Häkkinen to the team as part of our Driver Development Program. We can't wait to see what this… pic.twitter.com/H5jyLo6owd

- McLaren (@ McLarenF1) November 17, 2025

A step towards a more female-dominated motorsport for McLaren

Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing, welcomed this first step towards the broader feminization of motorsport. While I recognize that there is still much to be done to increase the representation of women in motorsport, I am extremely proud of the progress we have made in this area. "I hope this will show all the incredibly talented female drivers, engineers, mechanics, marketing specialists, and accountants out there that our sport is open to all. We are deeply committed to maintaining the incredible momentum we have experienced in recent years," the American executive stated.

“There are many opportunities, both on and off the track. I would also like to thank NEOM for partnering with us in this area to help us open more doors for women. Having three talented young female drivers in our driver development program is really exciting – I can’t wait to see them on the track.” »

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