ELLA STEVENS Tops F1 Academy Rookie Test, Joins McLaren Development Programme

November 17, 2025

• ELLA STEVENS proved she belongs in the big leagues by topping the times at the inaugural F1 Academy Rookie Test at Navarra – and McLaren was paying attention. The British karting star earned herself a spot in the McLaren Driver Development Programme and will pilot a McLaren-liveried Rodin Motorsport entry when F1 Academy returns in 2026.
• Stevens isn’t just another rookie with potential – she’s got the hardware to back up the hype. The double English KZ2 Champion and British BirelART Cadet Champion finished second overall in the 2025 British KZ2 Karting Championship, building a resume that made her rookie test performance look less like a fluke and more like a preview of what’s coming.
• What makes this signing even sweeter is that McLaren is doubling down on F1 Academy by adding a second car to the grid. Stevens’ addition means we’re getting both quantity and quality, with Rodin Motorsport’s Sporting Director Benn Huntingford calling her a rookie “with enormous potential” – the kind of backing that suggests they see something special brewing.

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