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McLaren Signs 14-Year-Old Ella Häkkinen, Expands Female Driver Pipeline

The move signals McLaren’s bid to widen opportunities for women in its talent pathway.

Overview

  • Häkkinen joins as the program’s youngest driver and will begin single-seater testing with a target of a full-season campaign in 2027.
  • Ella Stevens has been added to the roster and is set to compete in the F1 Academy in 2026 alongside existing junior Ella Loyd.
  • Rodin Motorsport will supply McLaren’s two cars for its 2026 F1 Academy entry.
  • Häkkinen, the daughter of two-time F1 champion Mika Häkkinen, claimed a 2024 karting win at Cremona in Champions of the Future.
  • CEO Zak Brown frames the additions as part of a broader push to increase female participation across motorsport roles following recent updates to the junior program.