{"id":291400,"date":"2025-11-17T23:58:15","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T23:58:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/291400\/"},"modified":"2025-11-17T23:58:15","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T23:58:15","slug":"f1-news-mclaren-signs-f1-champions-daughter-to-driver-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/291400\/","title":{"rendered":"F1 news: McLaren signs F1 champion\u2019s daughter to driver programme"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"McLaren
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMcLaren junior Ella Hakkinen.<\/p>\n

Hakkinen joins the McLaren Driver Development Programme as its youngest member, arriving off the back of a strong karting record that includes a major international victory at the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy event in Cremona<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She will prepare for her first single-seater tests ahead of an expected 2027 F1 Academy debut.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am really pleased to be joining the McLaren Driver Development Program,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an exciting prospect to be working with the team and learning from everyone. I look forward to seeing my progress over the years to come; it\u2019s going to be fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her signing also brings the Hakkinen name back to McLaren, the team with which her father won the 1998 and 1999 F1 titles.<\/p>\n

The expansion also includes 19-year-old Ella Stevens joining both the driver development program and McLaren\u2019s second F1 Academy entry for 2026.<\/p>\n

Stevens arrives after finishing vice-champion in the 2025 British KZ2 Karting Championship and remains the only woman to win in the UK\u2019s premier karting class.<\/p>\n

She also topped the timesheets at the inaugural F1 Academy rookie test in September.<\/p>\n

She will race under the McLaren Oxagon banner, run by Rodin Motorsport in partnership with long-term McLaren collaborator NEOM.<\/p>\n

\"Ella<\/p>\n

Ella Hakkinen (right) alongside Ella Lloyd (centre) and Ella Stevens (left). Image: McLaren<\/p>\n

Stevens said the move marks a major moment in her career.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m super excited to join the McLaren driver development program,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a really big milestone in my career, and it\u2019s great to be joining a team that put so much focus on development.\u201d<\/p>\n

Current F1 Academy driver Ella Lloyd will remain with McLaren for a second season. The Welsh driver sits third in the 2025 standings with one win and four further podiums ahead of the Las Vegas finale.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s brilliant to be continuing my F1 Academy journey with McLaren Racing and Rodin Motorsport,\u201d Lloyd said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s great that we can build on what we\u2019ve achieved this year so that we can go for the championship in 2026.<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you to the papaya family for all of their support.\u201d<\/p>\n

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said the expansion is a meaningful step in the team\u2019s long-term commitment to increasing female participation.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile I recognise that more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport, I\u2019m immensely proud of the progress we\u2019ve made in this space,\u201d Brown said.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo 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.\u201d<\/p>\n


\"\"
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