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Introducing Ella Lloyd: The McLaren driver on showjumping, sibling rivalries and balancing two racing series
Ella Lloyd has been no stranger to the podium in her rookie F1 ACADEMY season. With four trophies so far, including three P2 finishes in Montreal, it’s about time the McLaren driver faced our quickfire questions.
From swapping one type of horsepower for another, to her go-to Nando’s order and why Lloyd has no doubt she’s the fastest in her family, the Welsh racer shares all..
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RACING FOR?
“I’ve been racing for three years, so this is my fourth year this year. I did no karting previously.”
DO YOU REMEMBER THE MOMENT YOU FIRST WANTED TO BE A RACING DRIVER?
“Yeah, it was probably after I did my first test. (Asked what she enjoyed most in the test) Probably the speed, I would say. The speed and the adrenaline going round the track.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE CHEAT MEAL?
“Probably a Nando’s or a Five Guys. Just a butterfly chicken with peri salted chips and garlic bread. Can’t go wrong!”
HAVE YOU GOT ANY HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF RACING?
“Yeah, showjumping and skiing. I did ski racing and showjumping previously. My dad did a bit of rallying so I’ve always been around racing. After the first test I just decided to do it.”
IF YOU WEREN’T A RACING DRIVER, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?
“I don’t know, maybe a showjumper.”
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MOVIE OR TV SERIES?
“When I was younger I liked Matilda, and Home Alone is a good one at Christmas.”
READ MORE: Weug hails Zandvoort testing pace as she looks to bounce back after Montreal setback
WHAT’S YOUR PRE-RACE RITUAL, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY SUPERSTITIONS?
“No, I just do my normal warm-up and get in the car! I don’t do anything special. I just do the exercises I do and I don’t mind them, to be honest. I used to hate skipping but now I’m not too bad at it. I don’t mind it.”
FIVE MINUTES EARLY OR FIVE MINUTES LATE?
“Sometimes I can be a bit of both. I try to be early but sometimes I’m late.”
WHERE ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO RACING THIS YEAR AND WHY?
“I think Singapore will be a good one because I was the Wild Card there last year. I think Zandvoort will be good as well. I really enjoyed the circuit (in Singapore). Obviously, I struggled a little bit in Free Practice because I only had about five laps but I really enjoyed the circuit and the race weekend.”
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER SO FAR?
“The highlight was probably doing the wildcard last year, and the four podiums I had in British F4 last year. It was pretty special because the field is quite competitive in British F4, so to be only in my third year (of racing), getting podiums against people who have done karting was pretty good.
IF YOU COULD RACE AGAINST ANY DRIVER IN HISTORY, WHO WOULD YOU PICK AND WHY?
“My brother, just because I’d want to beat him! It’s because he always says he’ll beat me all the time. (Asked if she’d race against her dad) Oh yeah, I’d smoke him any day of the week!”
WHAT’S BETTER — CATS OR DOGS? “Dogs!”
DO YOU HAVE ANY PETS?
“Well, my horse — I don’t know if that’s a pet! It doesn’t live in my house. She’s called Elvira.”
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG GIRL WANTING TO GET STARTED IN RACING?
“Just go and give it a go really. Everyone says you’ve got to start in karting and younger — I didn’t do that. I did two different sports before coming to racing. I was 16 when I started so you don’t have to start young. Just give it a go.”
WHAT’S YOUR AMBITION FOR THE 2025 SEASON?
“I think I just want to be as consistent and (as far) at the top as I can be. Doing the duel campaign with British F4 is really going to push my development this year. I want to be at the top in both.”