Ella Hakkinen, daughter of Formula 1 legend Mika, launched her single-seater career with a debut weekend in the Formula 4 Central European Zone Championship at the Red Bull Ring.
The 15-year-old joined Jenzer Motorsport for her first outing in single-seater cars and immediately faced a 27-car grid filled with emerging talent.
Hakkinen lined up sixth on the grid for Race 1 and remained in the mix throughout. She crossed the line ninth on the road but dropped to 11th after a five-second penalty.
In Race 2, she again started from the third row as part of a strong Jenzer line-up. She settled into a solid rhythm early on and held a place inside the top 10 during the opening phase. After five laps, she was running ninth as the field began to split.
A late safety car, triggered by a collision in the midfield, neutralised the race and prevented a full restart. Hakkinen maintained her position to secure another top-10 finish.
Hakkinen completed her debut weekend with a 15th-place finish in the final race, capping off a learning-focused first appearance in Formula 4.
Her step up to cars follows a successful karting career, where she secured wins and podiums across Europe. Her progress earned her a place in McLaren’s driver development programme in 2025, making her its youngest member.
Her father, two-time Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen, believes she has the tools to succeed.
“Ella is an extremely talented racing driver. I’m not just saying this as a father, but based on my observations as a former top driver,” he told Finnish paper Ilta-Sanomat.
He also pointed to her mindset as a key strength, adding: “Her motivation is impressive. She really wants to become a racing driver.
“In the meantime, she has become a real daredevil. In a few years we will experience a rider again in the premier class, whether it is Ella or another.
“The new generation of Formula 1 fans are made up of 40 percent women, and the sport must reflect that.”
Hakkinen’s first weekend in Formula 4 delivered a clear baseline. The results offered steady progress, with more to build on as the season develops.
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