Like Father, Like Daughter: McLaren Sign Former F1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen’s Daughter

McLaren are diving headfirst into the next generation of talent (and the next generation of Hakkinen) by adding 14-year-old Ella Hakkinen, daughter of two-time Formula One world champion Mika Hakkinen, to their Driver Development Programme.

She joins British teenager Ella Stevens and current F1 Academy racer Ella Lloyd, meaning McLaren will officially run with three Ellas on their books next year. What a coincidence, eh?

Committed to supporting the next generation of females in motorsport 🤝

Welcoming Ella Stevens, who will run in our second F1 Academy car from 2026 alongside Ella Lloyd, and Ella Häkkinen to the team as part of our Driver Development Programme. We can’t wait to see what this… pic.twitter.com/H5jyLo6owd

— McLaren (@McLarenF1) November

17, 2025

A Rising Star — With a Familiar Last Name

Hakkinen, the youngest driver on McLaren’s programme, has been turning heads across Europe. She impressed at the 2024 Champions of the Future Academy in Italy and has collected wins and podium finishes across the karting scene.

Her father, the “Flying Finn” who won back-to-back F1 titles for McLaren in 1998 and 1999, hasn’t been shy about her potential.

“Ella is an extremely talented racing driver,” Mika told Finnish outlet Ilta-Sanomat. “I’m not just saying this as a father, but based on my observations as a former top driver.”

He’s even floated the idea that she could become Formula One’s first female driver since 1976.

McLaren say Ella will begin single-seater testing as part of a long-term plan aimed toward 2027.

Stevens Joins F1 Academy Effort

Also incoming is 19-year-old Ella Stevens, the only woman ever to win in Britain’s premier karting class. She’ll race for McLaren in the F1 Academy next season, with both cars run by Rodin Motorsport.

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown celebrated the team’s growing roster of women drivers:

“While I recognise more remains to be done to increase female representation in motorsport, I’m immensely proud of the progress we’ve made. To now have three talented young female drivers in our programme is really exciting.”

(with Reuters inputs)