McLaren has three drivers named Ella in its Driver Development Programme: Ella Häkkinen, Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens. Lloyd and Stevens are racing in F1 Academy, while 15-year-old Häkkinen is earlier in the ladder after joining the programme last year.
Their routes into motorsport are notably different. Häkkinen carries a famous surname as the daughter of two-time F1 champion Mika Häkkinen, but her own story includes karting, family encouragement and horse riding away from the track. Lloyd, from Pontypridd, brings a background in show jumping and skiing, and has connected her Welsh identity to her racing image through a dragon on her helmet.
Lloyd has already built momentum in F1 Academy, having been named Rookie of the Year last season and taken a first series win in Saudi Arabia last year. Stevens, who began racing at six, has described the step into McLaren and F1 Academy as a major increase in profile and opportunity.
Beyond the shared first name, the trio reflects McLaren’s attempt to develop young female talent at different stages of the racing ladder. Their progress also raises a broader question for F1: how quickly can junior programmes, F1 Academy exposure and meaningful seat time turn promise into genuine top-level opportunity?
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