McLaren Racing have unveiled the liveries for their 2026 F1 Academy challengers, driven by McLaren Driver Development Programme members Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens.
Ella Lloyd will drive the McLaren F1 Academy entry, operated by Rodin Motorsport. The number 20 car continues with the design language of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’s MCL40, revealed yesterday, using the team’s iconic papaya colouring with anthracite.
Ella, 20, from Pontypridd, Wales, started her competitive racing career in 2022 in the Ginetta Junior Championship, followed by the Ginetta GT Championship in 2023, earning the Vice-Champion title. In 2024, Ella made her single-seater debut in the Formula Winter Series before finishing 11th with four podiums in the 2024 British F4 Championship with JHR Developments. Before her debut season in 2025, Ella joined the 2024 F1 Academy grid in Singapore as the Wild Card entry, where she finished in the points in both races. This year, she enters her second season in the series after achieving great success in her first year, during which she secured Rookie of the Year. With one win and five podiums under her belt, Ella has her ambitions set on the Championship.
The McLaren F1 Academy car, driven by Ella Lloyd, will feature the branding of several McLaren Racing partners, each reinforcing their commitment to driving positive change in motorsport. The livery includes Mastercard, NEOM, Ecolab, DP World, newly-announced Schneider Electric and More than Equal. Together, these partners demonstrate a shared ambition to champion opportunity, representation, and progress across the sport.