The grid of the 2025 F1 Academy season is starting to shape up, with yet another driver confirmed following Chloe Chambers’s move to Red Bull Ford.
Ella Lloyd will represent McLaren driving for the Rodin team, and has recently joined the young talent development programme coordinated by Stephanie Carlin. Lloyd also takes part in the Women’s Formula E testing session in Valencia on the 7th of November.
The 19 years old Welsh driver has made her F1 Academy debut in the past season, competing in the Singapore round with a wildcard. In her first double race weekend in the series, she managed to end both races in the points, with the best finish of P7.
Lloyd made her competitive racing debut in 2022, became vice champion in the Ginetta GT Championship in 2023 and scored four podiums in the past British F4 season, racing in the Formula Winter Series as well. She is also an awards-winning show jumper and skier.
The young driver commented on the announcement, highlighting her thankfulness to the Woking-based team and her excitement for the new challenges ahead of her:
“I’m really excited to be joining the McLaren Driver Development programme as the team’s F1 Academy driver in 2025. 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,” concluded Lloyd.
Director of McLaren’s Driver Development programme and F1 Business operations Stephanie Carlin also saluted the signing, highlighting her impressive Singapore performance:
“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. Ella has great talent and potential and has already cemented herself in the series, performing brilliantly as the Wild Card entry in Singapore, so we’re excited to see what she can do with us. We look forward to supporting her development.”
