The 14-year-old daughter of a Formula 1 world champion has signed for McLaren in a record-breaking move.
For young drivers, reaching Formula 1 is widely seen as the pinnacle of motorsport, with the world champion regarded as the fastest driver on the planet.
The journey typically begins in karting before progressing through junior categories, such as Formula 3 and Formula 2, where standout performances can lead to a Formula 1 seat.
At that stage, many rising talents are recruited by major teams to join their driver development programmes.
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Among the latest additions to the McLaren Racing Driver Development Programme is the daughter of Mika Häkkinen, Ella Häkkinen.
She will join the programme, which helps promising young drivers take the next steps in their motorsport careers.
Häkkinen will break a record in becoming the youngest member of the programme, having already impressed in the early stages of her career.
Last year, she secured her first major international victory at the Champions of the Future Academy event in Cremona.
Her next step will see her link up with McLaren for single-seater testing ahead of 2027.
It takes her another step closer to the world of Formula 1, with the same team her father won world titles with in both 1998 and 1999.
Häkkinen recorded 50 podium finishes, including 20 Grand Prix victories, across an illustrious 10-year career in F1.
Speaking to Finnish paper Ilta-Sanomat last month, he said he believes his daughter has the potential to become a star in motorsport.
He said: "Ella is an extremely talented racing driver. I'm not just saying this as a father, but based on my observations as a former top driver."
McLaren also confirmed that Ella Stevens will join the F1 Academy, the all-female series launched in 2023 to support the next generation of female drivers.
Stevens has already made her mark in karting, becoming the only woman to win the British KZ2 Karting Championship earlier this year.
The 19-year-old will be McLaren's second entry on the F1 academy grid, joining Ella Lloyd.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown issued a statement expressing his 'pride' at the continued growth of the team's young driver programme.
He said: “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.
"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."
Brown continued: “There are so many opportunities both at and away from the 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.”
Topics: Formula 1, McLaren, Motorsport
James Taylor