Ella Häkkinen to make single-seater debut with Jenzer Motorsport in 2026 F4 CEZ

Ella Häkkinen will take the first step of her single-seater career in 2026, as the young Finnish driver joins Jenzer Motorsport for the upcoming Formula 4 Central European Zone Championship season.

Photo credits: McLaren

Ella Häkkinen will take the first step of her single-seater career in 2026, as the young Finnish driver joins Jenzer Motorsport for the upcoming Formula 4 Central European Zone (F4 CEZ) Championship season.

The daughter of two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen, Ella Häkkinen continues her progression through the junior motorsport ranks and will also compete as the youngest member of the McLaren Driver Development Programme, further strengthening her pathway toward professional single-seater racing.

The 2026 campaign will mark Häkkinen’s first season in Formula 4 machinery, as she transitions from karting into car racing within one of Europe’s most competitive entry-level single-seater categories.

She will race with Jenzer Motorsport, a highly experienced Swiss outfit that has dominated the F4 CEZ Championship in recent years, securing both the drivers’ and teams’ titles in each of the last three seasons.

Speaking about the announcement, Häkkinen expressed enthusiasm for the next phase of her career and the opportunity to work alongside an established Formula 4 organisation.

“I’m proud to start a new chapter with such an experienced and competitive team such as Jenzer Motorsport, along with the support from the McLaren Driver Development Programme. This is a big step in my journey, and I’m motivated more than ever to keep progressing.”

Her inclusion in McLaren’s junior structure, which she joined in November 2025, shows the confidence placed in her long-term potential as she steps up from karting.

Jenzer Motorsport team owner Andreas Jenzer also highlighted the team’s commitment to nurturing young drivers as they adapt to the demands of Formula 4 racing.

“We are happy to welcome Ella Häkkinen to our team. We will support her in the same way we support all our drivers, giving her the time and environment she needs at the beginning of her Formula 4 career. We know how to guide and protect young drivers as they adapt to a highly competitive single-seater environment. Everyone around Ella will work to help her succeed.”

Häkkinen has recently been contesting a testing programme to prepare for her F4 debut, following an impressive karting resumé. She secured her first international victories in the Champions of the Future Academy program, the F1 Academy-supported series, followed by pole positions and a podiums.

In 2025 she competed again in the Champions of the Future Academy series under the Discover Your Drive banner, in the OK-N Senior category.