McLaren 'immensely proud' of crucial step after signing Mika Hakkinen daughter

McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has shared his pride at the progress the Woking-based squad has made to increase female representation in motorsport.

The constructors' champion has announced the signing of Ella Stevens and Ella Hakkinen — the daughter of two-time F1 drivers' champion Mika Hakkinen, who won his two titles with McLaren in 1998 and 1999 — to its driver development programme.

The pair join Ella Lloyd, who will continue racing in papaya in F1 Academy in 2026, with Stevens also due to be on the grid of the all-woman F1 support series next year.

The latter, 19, will also race in a machine operated by Rodin Motorsport, and her entry will be known as McLaren Oxagon, in collaboration with long-term McLaren partner NEOM.

"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," Brown said.

"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."

Hakkinen, 14, is preparing for the jump to single-seaters, with a testing programme planned for 2027.

Brown added: "There are so many opportunities both at and away from track, and I want to thank NEOM for partnering with us in this space to help us open more pathways for women.

"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."