McLaren adds rising karting star Ella Häkkinen to expanded Driver Development programme

McLaren has signed 14-year-old karting talent Ella Häkkinen to its Driver Development Programme, as she will begin testing single-seaters in 2026, working toward a future formula debut in 2027.

Photo credits: McLaren

McLaren Racing has announced a significant expansion of its efforts to support the next generation of female motorsport talent, strengthening its Driver Development Programme and committing additional resources to the all-female F1 Academy championship.

As part of this broader investment, the team will field a second McLaren-liveried entry in the series beginning in 2026, with Ella Lloyd continuing for a second season and karting star Ella Stevens stepping into the second seat.

Alongside its expanded F1 Academy presence, McLaren has confirmed the addition of a third female driver to its Driver Development Programme: rising karting prospect Ella Häkkinen.

At just 14 years old, Häkkinen becomes the youngest member of the programme, yet her résumé already marks her as one of Europe’s most exciting young female talents in karting. She secured her first major international victory at the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy in Cremona, a result that set the tone for more wins and podiums across the continent in the F1 Academy-supported series, including a pole position and a podium in the most recent round at Slovakiaring.

Competing again in the Champions of the Future Academy series under the Discover Your Drive banner in 2025, Häkkinen currently sits fourth in the OK-N Senior category.

The daughter of two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Häkkinen, Ella has steadily made her name for her own in European karting and her inclusion in McLaren’s development pathway will see her begin testing single-seaters in 2026 as she works toward a future formula debut, with preparation aimed at a potential entry in 2027.

“While I recognise that more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport, I’m immensely proud of the progress we’ve made in this space", McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown said, explaining the team’s expanded commitment. "I hope this 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.

"To 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.