McLaren will run two cars in F1 Academy next season in an expansion of its female driver development commitment that also includes signing Ella Hakkinen, the daughter of two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika.
Existing F1A driver Ella Lloyd will be joined by new McLaren driver development programme member Ella Stevens in the F1 support series next year.
Stevens, runner-up in the British KZ2 Karting Championship this year, topped the inaugural F1A rookie test earlier this year and will step up to race single-seaters for the first time in 2026.
Lloyd continues for a second year in F1A - she has one victory so far in her rookie season and is currently third in the 2025 championship standings.
Both McLaren F1A entries will be run by Rodin Motorsport with the second car operating under the F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon banner.
Though not set to race in single-seaters until 2027, 14-year-old Ella Hakkinen joins the McLaren programme as part of a two-year preparation for her step into car racing.
McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said “more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport” but hopes the team’s commitment “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”.
Last week, F1 announced that all 10 current teams had renewed their commitment to sponsoring cars and drivers in F1A on a “multi-year” deal.
Cadillac, which only enters F1 in 2026, has committed to joining the F1A grid as a sponsor in 2027.
Presently, F1A puts a two-season cap on drivers competing in the F4-level series but to deepen the talent pool, F1A’s rules will change so that from 2027 drivers who have competed in 2025 and 2026 will be granted an exemption to race in the series for a third year.
