Ella Lloyd on her breakout year - why F1 Academy star keeps getting better

“My qualifying throughout the year’s just improved each round and my consistency in all the races, my race pace – everything’s got better throughout the year. I’m pretty happy with the progress I’ve made, and just want to carry on going the way that I have been for the last two rounds.”

While the win in Jeddah is the first result that some might look to in what’s been a standout year, Lloyd points to the manner of her big Montreal scores in a demonstration of her strength this year.

“I didn’t start particularly far forward in all the races,” the 20-year-old says. “I was P7 [on the grid] in one of them.

“Starting from even further back, [I showed] I can make my way forward, and we had a good haul of points. I was really happy with that weekend.”

Lloyd’s father Chris is a former rally driver and Paralympic skier. That competitive edge clearly runs through the family, and it was through her father that a chance Ginetta test got her into racing proper in 2023.

She then made her British F4 debut last year, scoring podiums in her first year.

Having now been picked up by McLaren, Lloyd credits one of racing’s greatest teams in helping develop her talent further, particularly the driver development coach Warren Hughes (brother of Motor Sport grand prix editor Mark).

“I think just working with my engineer and with Warren, just understanding a bit more about the car and how it works,” is the driver’s explanation for her progress this year.

“Last year I didn’t really have a great understanding about that. We’ve had a lot of different weather, which means certain set-ups. I think I’ve also grown as a driver on and off the track, with my feedback being better, which also then helps my engineer.

“Warren’s just sat back and listened in engineering meetings, then given little details about what he thinks needs improving.

“I think my main thing was being smooth and patient really with it, and not overdoing it or overdriving.

“McLaren is like a big family. You get so much support from them, not just on track but behind the scenes [too].

“The DDP programme has supported me quite a bit this year, all the opportunities they provided me with, I just couldn’t really thank them enough.”

Lloyd is clearly not one to get unduly overexcited in any situation, and credits it as her main strength in racing: “Just being able to stay calm under pressure. Some people crumble.”

She might have been one of the standout performers in F1 Academy, but how much further can she go?

The jury is still out on whether the series really can have a lasting effect on a female racer’s career, and if the prospect of getting to the world championship is realistic for them.

The inaugural series champion in 2023, Marta Garcia, received a fully funded seat in the ’24 Formula Regional European Championship, while last year’s victor Abbi Pulling was awarded a pukka Rodin GB3 seat for this season.

Garcia is now racing in the Le Mans Cup feeder series for WEC with the Iron Dames GT squad – it remains to be seen how far she’ll be able to go as a professional racer, despite her obvious ability.

When asked, Lloyd is unequivocal about what she sees as the championship’s positive effect.

“Obviously this is an amazing opportunity, and it’s great to inspire the younger generation, not just with driving but also engineers and mechanics,” she says. “Even the fanbases, [there are] definitely a lot more like younger females are coming in to support it, which is amazing to see.

“I think it’s definitely given me more of chance, being on a wider platform with Formula 1 and being a part of McLaren – it’s just widened that opportunity.”

With Lloyd listing Marina Bay as one of her favourite circuits, her best drive this season may still be to come.