McLaren has expanded its junior structure for 2026, confirming two new talents and adding a second car to its F1 Academy line-up. The biggest attention naturally goes to Ella Häkkinen, daughter of double Formula 1 world champion Mika Häkkinen, who joins the team’s development programme at just 14 years old.

A notable detail is that Häkkinen races under a Czech licence, enabled through her mother, making her one of the most visible Czech-linked prospects in international junior motorsport. In 2026 she is expected to continue in karting while also beginning her first single-seater tests, preparing for a potential move into formula racing in 2027.

McLaren also confirmed that its current F1 Academy driver Ella Lloyd will stay with the team for next season. She will gain a new teammate in Ella Stevens, who joins McLaren’s newly added second entry in the all-female championship. Both cars will be run in cooperation with Rodin Motorsport.

Stevens, 19, arrives with strong results from karting, including the Vice-Champion title in the 2025 British KZ2 Karting Championship, the UK’s top-level karting category, where she became the only woman to win a race.