Ella Hakkinen Joins Mclaren‘s Driver Development Programme
McLaren has announced that Ella Hakkinen, the 14-year-old daughter of two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen, will join its prestigious driver development programme. This decision highlights the team’s commitment to nurturing female talent within the motorsport arena.
Despite her young age, Hakkinen is already making waves in the motorsport community. While her racing experience has largely been confined to karting, joining McLaren’s development programme sets the stage for her first single-seater competition, scheduled for 2027. The legacy of her father, who secured back-to-back Drivers’ Championships in 1998 and 1999, casts a long shadow, but there are high hopes for Ella to carve out her own path in racing.
Rising Star: Ella Hakkinen’s Journey Begins
On the same day Hakkinen’s placement was officially announced, McLaren also welcomed fellow competitors Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens to the driver development programme. Both will participate in next season’s F1 Academy, marking a significant milestone as McLaren becomes the first team to enter two cars in the series. Lloyd is already part of this year’s grid, while Stevens is set to make her debut following an impressive rookie test.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown underscored the importance of increasing female representation in motorsport. “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,” he commented. Brown hopes that this initiative will inspire talented female karters, drivers, engineers, and other professionals to pursue careers in the sport.
As McLaren gears up for another competitive season, the team recently secured its second consecutive Constructors’ Championship. Current drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are in the hunt for the drivers’ title, further enhancing the team’s solid reputation in Formula 1.
In aligning with promising young talent like Ella Hakkinen, McLaren not only strengthens its own future but also champions a more inclusive and diverse motorsport industry.