Ella Lloyd, the latest addition to McLaren’s driver development programme, is set to make her debut with the team’s Formula E outfit during an all-female test in Valencia next month. Lloyd, who made a splash in her F1 Academy debut as a wildcard entrant with Prema in Singapore, has quickly become one to watch, scoring two top-10 finishes and showing her potential on the big stage. She will replace Red Bull-bound Bianca Bustamante in McLaren’s ART-run entry for the 2025 season.
The 19-year-old has already impressed in the British F4 series this season, securing a podium finish at Donington Park and three second-place finishes at Silverstone, Knockhill, and Brands Hatch. Managed by 2003 Le Mans winner Guy Smith and sportscar racer Andy Meyrick through Greenlight talent agency, Lloyd is eager to capitalize on this next big opportunity.
“To be in this position is amazing, and I’m determined to make the most of it with a lot of preparation,” Lloyd said, acknowledging the significance of being given this chance. “I didn’t really think I’d have an opportunity so early on like this. With the Formula E test, I’m really grateful for the opportunity that McLaren have given me here. I’ve done a day in the sim and there will be more, so I can’t wait to get started.”
While Lloyd’s immediate focus remains on the F1 Academy next season, she is open to the possibilities Formula E presents. The series has previously had female racers like Katherine Legge, Simona de Silvestro, and Michela Cerruti, and it’s now pushing to create more opportunities for women. The all-female test session at Valencia on November 7 is a crucial step in this initiative, as each team fields two drivers in an effort to spotlight female talent in the sport.
“I wouldn’t say I have a direct path in my career for the next few years, to be honest,” Lloyd admitted. “Formula E is obviously a great option. Doing the test in a few weeks is going to be a real eye-opener into what could be possible, so I’ve just got to take it step-by-step and see what comes my way.”
Stephanie Carlin, McLaren’s F1 business operations manager, is enthusiastic about Lloyd’s potential. “She has great talent and potential, and she’s already cemented herself in F1 Academy with her ninth- and sixth-place finishes on her Singapore debut,” Carlin said. “We’re excited to see what she can do with us, and we look forward to supporting her development.”
Lloyd’s rise in motorsport is the kind of trajectory Formula E is aiming to promote, addressing the concern that many young women in motorsport are often overlooked due to limited opportunities. Her racing roots run deep: her father, Chris Lloyd, represented Great Britain in skiing at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympics and was a rally driver before that, while her brother competes in the Ginetta series. Despite her background, Lloyd only began competitive racing on four wheels in 2018, having previously found success in skiing and showjumping, after participating in an FIA Girls on Track event at Silverstone.
This event, which is producing tangible results across motorsport, will be extended to the Formula E Valencia test, offering up to 400 local young women the chance to engage with the female drivers and participate in career workshops. Formula E aims to accelerate opportunities for women across all levels of the motorsport spectrum.
The initiative is markedly different from the 2018 event in Riyadh, where some teams failed to field female drivers, and the event felt more like a marketing effort than a merit-based opportunity. Formula E’s renewed push in Valencia, involving structured test runs and extensive media coverage, signals a more serious and strategic approach to integrating women into the sport.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds highlighted the importance of this progressive step: “We also recognize that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress.”
Dodds emphasized that with Formula E’s nearly equal male and female fan base, it’s essential for the sport’s ecosystem to reflect that diversity. “As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, as well as within Formula E including my executive and director teams, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem are representative of those that follow and support the sport,” he said.
The Valencia test will offer some flexibility for licensing requirements and allow the female testers to use the same tire allocation as the regular drivers, plus an additional set of Hankook tires. This setup ensures that the test is both competitive and fair, providing a realistic and merit-based platform for the female racers to showcase their talents.
With initiatives like these, Formula E is setting a new standard for inclusivity in motorsport, and with rising talents like Ella Lloyd on board, the future looks promising.
