Ella Lloyd has joined McLaren’s Driver Development Programme ahead of a full-time drive in F1 Academy with Rodin Motorsport in 2025.
The 19-year-old impressed in her rookie single-seater campaign in British Formula 4 with JHR Developments this year, scoring four podiums across her final five rounds and finishing 11th in the standings.
She was inside the top 10 in the points before missing a round to make her F1 Academy debut last month in Singapore with Prema, having been selected as that round’s wildcard entry, finishing ninth and seventh in the two races.
Lloyd only started racing two years ago in Ginetta Junior, having not karted previously, and finished 21st in the standings. She was then runner-up in the Ginetta GT Championship’s GT5 Pro class last year, having scored 10 victories. She made her single-seater debut with Rodin by entering two rounds of the Formula Winter Series at the beginning of this year.
“I’m really excited to be joining the McLaren Driver Development programme as the team’s F1 Academy driver in 2025,” said Lloyd. “It’s an honour to drive for a team that has such a great racing history, and also a long track record for developing talent.
“With McLaren, I now have everything I need to keep developing and pushing the boundaries as a female in motorsport. Thank you to Zak Brown, Stephanie Carlin and the entire McLaren team for their faith in me. I can’t wait to get racing in papaya.”
Lloyd will also take part in Formula E’s maiden women’s test at Valencia next month with McLaren.
“I am pleased to welcome Ella to the McLaren Driver Development programme ahead of her debut as our F1 Academy driver for the 2025 season,” said Stephanie Carlin, who as McLaren’s Director of F1 Business Operations now looks after its junior programme having previously been deputy team principal of the outfit now known as Rodin.
“Ella has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself in the series, performing brilliantly as the wildcard entry in Singapore, so we’re excited to see what she can do with us. We look forward to supporting her development.”