ELLA LLOYD Claims Breakthrough F1 Academy Win at Jeddah, Eyes Formula One

April 22, 2025

• McLaren’s ELLA LLOYD delivered a commanding performance to claim her first F1 Academy victory at Jeddah Corniche Circuit, expertly managing pressure from Ferrari’s MAYA WEUG and Red Bull’s ALISHA PALMOWSKI throughout the race. The 19-year-old Welsh driver from Pontypridd controlled the race from the front row, showcasing the racecraft that’s made her one of Britain’s most promising talents despite only starting competitive racing in 2022.
• LLOYD’s remarkable journey defies conventional motorsport wisdom – she bypassed karting entirely to jump straight into Ginetta Juniors, then rapidly progressed to F1 Academy and McLaren’s development program within just two years. Her unconventional path, combined with a sporting background in show jumping and skiing, demonstrates the kind of natural athleticism that translates across disciplines when paired with fierce determination.
• With Formula One as her ultimate target, LLOYD joins the lineage of drivers pushing toward the sport’s pinnacle, where no woman has competed since Giovanna Amati in 1992. Her systematic approach – planning progression through F4, GB3, then F3 – shows the strategic thinking needed to navigate modern motorsport’s ladder system, while her McLaren backing provides the platform typically essential for reaching F1’s summit.

 Jeddah Corniche Circuit, all-female f1 academy, ferrari, mclaren