Time moves quickly in motor racing, but even by our sport’s usual standards, Ella Lloyd’s rise has been rapid.

Just over two years ago, Ella was building on her burgeoning reputation as a talented showjumper and skier, but she is now treading an entirely different path, at lightning speed.

The 19-year-old was recently unveiled as a McLaren Development Driver, alongside a confirmed seat for the 2025 F1 Academy season with Rodin Motorsport. Few can claim to have climbed the junior racing ladder as quickly as the Welshwoman.

Speaking from the factory in the lead-up to the announcement, Ella is completing her first interview for McLaren. Halfway through, we’re interrupted by our F1 Team Principal Andrea Stella, who has stopped by to welcome her to the team and congratulate her on her recent F1 Academy debut.

Looking around, he highlights how daunting her surroundings could be for an ordinary 19-year-old. An F1 car sits no more than 20 yards in front of her, and behind her is our growing trophy cabinet.

It makes for a “surreal” backdrop, Ella says, but she hasn’t been visibly overawed despite her age and inexperience. The fact she isn’t easily shaken has been a key characteristic of her success so far.

“Walking around the factory as a McLaren Driver Development driver is pretty surreal,” she follows up. “I never thought this opportunity would come my way. It is amazing to walk around and see the cars and everyone who is involved with the team.

“Joining McLaren is an amazing opportunity. They’re leading the Constructors’ Championship in Formula 1, they’re on the rise, and hopefully, I can bring something to the table as well.”

Ella is a multi-talented athlete born into a sporting family. Her parents - who have joined her at the MTC - and her brother all hold rallying licenses. Her father, Chris Lloyd, also represented Great Britain at the 2018 Paralympics in Skiing.

Ella herself has already enjoyed some notable achievements. In 2019, she won the 148 Bronze League area 35 Wales with her horse Elvira and achieved Gold at the Welsh Skiing Championship in Champery.

But she’s always had a taste for racing and made the switch to four wheels in 2022. Despite never competitively karting, she stepped straight into Ginetta Juniors and looked remarkably comfortable, earning 15 points finishes from the 25 races in her maiden season.

“I have always had a love for cars and motorbikes,” she says. “I’ve driven my dad’s rally cars in the past, and as soon as I was given the chance to test a Ginetta Junior and jumped in the car, it really sunk in how much I wanted to do this.

“I would say my dad is an inspiration. I have been to watch him rally, which is different to circuit racing, but he’s still my inspiration for getting into motorsport.”

Ella may not have the years of karting experience that many of her peers do, but she’s made up for lost time by driving in several different types of cars, including Ginetta Juniors, Ginetta GT5 Challenge – Pro, F1 Academy and British F4.

After making her racing debut in the 2022 Ginetta Junior Championship, Ella stepped up to Ginetta GT5 Challenge - Pro for the following season and finished as the runner-up with 10 wins and 17 podiums.

Her single-seater debut followed in 2024 as she competed in the Formula Winter Series and British F4. Ella notched four podiums in the latter, which helped to earn her a spot on the F1 Academy grid as the Wild Card entry in Singapore with PREMA Racing, finishing ninth and seventh in the two races.

“I think racing in different categories is beneficial,” she says. “I was in sports cars previously, and now I am in single-seaters. They’re different types of racing, you can get so much closer to each other in open-wheel racing.

“My F1 Academy debut in Singapore was good prep for next year, and I would say that we made the most of the weekend. The time on track was limited, but we maximised what we had and what we could learn for next season. I was just trying to take all of the information I was being given onboard.”

Ella will be a permanent feature on the F1 Academy grid in 2025, joining Rodin Motorsports and becoming the second female to join the McLaren Driver Development programme, which play a pivotal role in guiding her through her first full season.

“The McLaren Driver Development programme can really help me to develop as a driver throughout next year,” she says. “I am still pretty fresh to this sport, both physically and in learning about the cars. I know a lot already, but I can learn when it comes to the dynamics of how different changes will affect the cars.

“I think they can help me a lot and bring a lot to the table for me next year – hopefully, I can keep improving. I will be doing a lot of prep in the gym and on the simulator, getting to know the circuits, as I’ll be driving on a lot of new ones, many of them street tracks.

“There will be some testing days, and then time with my team, getting to know everyone, seeing how well we can work together and pushing for results on track. Fans can hopefully expect to see fast driving from me - that’s my aim. I would love to deliver race wins and podiums.”

As part of her role in the Driver Development programme, Ella will join Bianca Bustamante at the Formula E Women’s Test in Madrid, where the duo are testing our NEOM McLaren FE car. The experience in Spain will kick off her 2025 F1 Academy season training programme, which will include further days at the MTC with the Driver Development programme team.

“I am super excited to hit the track in the Formula E car,” she says. “Again, I just never thought that an opportunity like this would come my way. I think I showed good pace in F1 Academy in Singapore, and now I have been given the chance to drive a Formula E car. I am going to give it my all and see what we can achieve on track.”