McLaren Racing have unveiled the liveries for their 2026 F1 Academy challengers, driven by McLaren Driver Development Programme members Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens.

Ella Lloyd will drive the McLaren F1 Academy entry, operated by Rodin Motorsport. The number 20 car continues with the design language of the McLaren Mastercard Formula 1 Team’s MCL40, revealed yesterday, using the team’s iconic papaya colouring with anthracite.

Ella, 20, from Pontypridd, Wales, started her competitive racing career in 2022 in the Ginetta Junior Championship, followed by the Ginetta GT Championship in 2023, earning the Vice-Champion title. In 2024, Ella made her single-seater debut in the Formula Winter Series before finishing 11th with four podiums in the 2024 British F4 Championship with JHR Developments. Before her debut season in 2025, Ella joined the 2024 F1 Academy grid in Singapore as the Wild Card entry, where she finished in the points in both races. This year, she enters her second season in the series after achieving great success in her first year, during which she secured Rookie of the Year. With one win and five podiums under her belt, Ella has her ambitions set on the Championship.

The McLaren F1 Academy car, driven by Ella Lloyd, will feature the branding of several McLaren Racing partners, each reinforcing their commitment to driving positive change in motorsport. The livery includes Mastercard, NEOM, Ecolab, DP World, newly-announced Schneider Electric and More than Equal. Together, these partners demonstrate a shared ambition to champion opportunity, representation, and progress across the sport.

Towards the end of last year, the team announced plans to double down on its commitment to opening pathways into motorsport for women by adding a second car to the series, in collaboration with NEOM. The McLaren Oxagon F1 Academy entry, driven by Ella Stevens, showcases the strength of McLaren Racing’s long-standing partnership with NEOM. As part of this collaboration, Oxagon – home of advanced and clean industries in NEOM – became Naming Partner of this entry, underscoring the partnership’s commitment to advancing the next generation of female talent in racing. Her number 28 challenger, operated by Rodin Motorsport, incorporates the vivid blue of Oxagon into papaya, contrasting with the anthracite. The livery also features Ecolab, who will be supporting both entries, demonstrating the collective drive among our partners to accelerate change and help shape a more inclusive future for motorsport.

Ella Stevens, 19, from Gloucestershire, is a double English KZ2 Champion, British BirelART Cadet Champion and the 2025 British KZ2 Vice-Champion. She is also the first woman to win the UK’s premier karting class. Ella graduates into single-seaters, making her debut in the F1 Academy series this year.

The new liveries will make their first appearance tomorrow during the Pre-Season Test in China, ahead of the first race in Shanghai on 13-15 March.

In 2026, F1 Academy will race across seven F1 race weekends in Shanghai, Jeddah, Montreal, Silverstone, Zandvoort, Austin and a season finale in Las Vegas.

Both drivers are part of the McLaren Driver Development Programme. Led by Chief Business Affairs Officer Alessandro Alunni Bravi, the team’s talent pipeline has an overarching aim to develop professional drivers who progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar, and the team’s upcoming World Endurance Championship entry. 

Alessandro Alunni Bravi, Chief Business Affairs Officer, McLaren Racing, said:

“It’s great to unveil the liveries for our 2026 F1 Academy challengers. They look brilliant. Having two cars on the grid this year is an exciting prospect, and it’s great to be able to demonstrate the team’s commitment to opening up pathways for women in motorsport in a meaningful way.

“The team look forward to seeing how Ella Lloyd and Ella Stevens get on this year, supported by our Driver Development Programme. Ella Lloyd impressed as Rookie of the Year in the 2025 season, and Ella Stevens has proven herself to be an exciting talent as she steps up into single-seaters.

“Thank you to the fantastic partners on board our F1 Academy programme, who help us go racing in the McLaren F1 Academy and the F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon entries. It’s great to have their support.”

Ella Lloyd, Driver, McLaren F1 Academy, said:

“I’m really excited to start my second season in F1 Academy with McLaren. The livery looks fantastic, and it’s always a privilege to race in a papaya car.

“Last year was a really strong one for me, and I’ve taken on board everything I’ve learned on track and in my training within the McLaren Driver Development Programme to be in the best position to go for the Championship this year.

“I’m looking forward to getting out on track tomorrow in the new livery and to see what we can achieve this season.”

Ella Stevens, Driver, F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon, said:

“It’s an honour to be the F1 Academy McLaren Oxagon entry for the team. The vivid blue on the car alongside the iconic papaya looks really cool. Seeing it has made me even more excited for my first-ever season in F1 Academy.

“I’m ready to learn as much as I can from this year and to develop as much as possible in the McLaren Driver Development Programme. I am excited to get out on track and give it my all.”