Ella Hakkinen: Daughter of F1 Champion May Become the First Woman in Formula 1.

Mika Hakkinen Supports His Daughter in Her Racing Career

According to The Sun: Mika Hakkinen has expressed support for his daughter Ella, emphasizing that she could become the first female driver in Formula 1 this century.

57-year-old Hakkinen, known as 'The Flying Finn', won two Formula 1 titles in 1998 and 1999, beating giants such as Michael Schumacher, Eddie Irvine, and David Coulthard.

To date, 14-year-old Ella has already achieved success in the karting series 'Champions of the Future', finishing second in the final race after showing the best result during the qualification stage at the Academic Program event at Slovakia Ring last month.

Hakkinen believes that 'Ella is a very talented driver. This is not just a parental opinion, but conclusions drawn from the experience of a former top driver.'

'The direction is absolutely right. Her motivation is simply incredible. She wants to become a driver. At the moment, she is a real firecracker.'

In the history of Formula 1, there have been only five women who participated in races, with the last being Giovanna Amati, who started in three races with Brabham in 1992. However, the last woman to score points in Formula 1 was the Italian Lella Lombardi, who competed from 1974 to 1976, earning points at the Spanish Grand Prix in 1975.

Future Predictions

In 2014, Susie Wolff, now director of F1 Academy, became the first woman to participate in a Formula 1 weekend since 1992, when she drove for Williams during practice at the British Grand Prix.

Hakkinen is confident that by 2030, there will be a woman in Formula 1 who will become the first full-time driver of this century.

'Female drivers will rise to the highest level by 2030 - whether it’s Ella or someone else. This new generation of fans is 40 percent women, and the sport needs to reflect that.'

He also spoke about Ella's training regime, noting that she trains with a personal coach who represents the same organization that works with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton – Hintsa Performance.

'They train at the same level as Hamilton. We leave nothing to chance,' added Hakkinen.

'Being a father and coach at the same time does not work, I am too emotional. A very professional coach is needed who can help your child realize their full potential.'

Ella noted that 'it’s nice to have a team around her, it gives more motivation and joy.' Lewis Hamilton is a big supporter of the F1 Academy series and was recognized by Wolff in 2023 as the only Formula 1 driver supporting her.

Ella Hakkinen’s efforts and her father’s support create a strong foundation for her motorsport career. In a world where women are increasingly asserting themselves in traditionally male disciplines, Ella has every chance to become an inspiring example for young female drivers in the future. His prediction about women in Formula 1 suggests a positive development in the sport and the possibility of changing established stereotypes.