Ex-World Champion Mika Hakkinen Wants His “Badass Daughter” to Become First Female F1 Racer of 21st Century

Mika Hakkinen has laid out some highly ambitious goals with his 'badass daughter' Ella Hakkinen as she achieves success in junior categories.


Ex-World Champion Mika Hakkinen Wants His “Badass Daughter” to Become First Female F1 Racer of 21st Century

Mika Hakkinen with his daughter Ella Hakkinen and wife Marketa Hakkinen (via Getty)

🔍 Explore this post with:

Formula 1 has continued to grow in terms of inclusivity and equality in recent years. The sport is witnessing an increased number of females participating in a team’s engineering crew and other roles. However, this change isn’t being seen with the drivers, as there have not been a notable number of female drivers yet. As such, two-time champion Mika Hakkinen lays out his wishes to see his daughter potentially race in the pinnacle of motorsport.

Since Formula 1’s inception back in 1950, there have only been five women drivers, with only two of them qualifying for a race and actually starting it. Lella Lombardi remains the only woman to have ever scored points in the sport. However, no female participation has been seen on the track in the 21st century. Meanwhile, women are making strides in other racing categories and can ultimately join F1 as well.

Mika Hakkinen, who found success in Formula 1 and achieved two coveted title wins back in 1998 and 1999, has pondered over the possibility of his daughter, Ella Hakkinen, potentially racing in the sport. She recently finished second in the Champions of the Future Academy and is looking promising for a great career in the future, as she is currently just 14 years old.

Mika Hakkinen asserted that his daughter, Ella Hakkinen, had incomprehensible motivation, as she definitely wanted to be a racing driver. He asserted that his daughter was already a total badass at just 14 years of age. Hakkinen also raised surety over female drivers racing at the highest level as early as 2030, even if it wasn’t his daughter, it could be any woman. The Flying Finn insisted that the new era of Formula 1 had over 40% of female fans and the driver pool needed to reflect that.

Her motivation is incomprehensible. She wants to be a racing driver. At this point, she’s a real badass. 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 female, and the sport needs to reflect that.

Mika Hakkinen said in an interview with Ilta-Sanomat.

Mika Hakkinen claims his daughter training at the ‘same level’ as Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton‘s long-time physiotherapist, Angela Cullen, was working with Hintsa Performance, the same agency that has been working with Mika Hakkinen’s daughter, Ella Hakkinen. As such, the youngster is definitely receiving great attention and training with like-minded people who can help fulfill her ambitions to move to the big leagues in racing.

Mika Hakkinen (via Getty)
Mika Hakkinen (via Getty)

Mika Hakkinen reflected that even if professional racing doesn’t exist for children, they will still receive a great education in terms of fitness, eating habits, and other aspects of their lives. Moreover, Hakkinen insisted that his children trained at the same level as Lewis Hamilton, which meant a great deal to him. As such, the Finn asserted that there were no stones left unturned to ensure that his daughter receives the best opportunities possible.

Whether or not racing becomes a profession for children one day, they will still get a good education in everything related to human fitness, sports, eating habits, and sleep, in other words, everything possible. I can say that my children train at the same level as Lewis Hamilton, as an F1 driver under the leadership of Hintsa Performance. Nothing is left undone.

Mika Hakkinen noted.

Even Lewis Hamilton is a big-time advocate for increasing female participation in the sport. The pinnacle of motorsport will reach its true pinnacle when it becomes open to adding more women to the grid. For now, the people will give it their all to make sure this comes true. Moreover, Mika Hakkinen will support his daughter completely and help her etch her path to Formula 1 in the near future.

Read More: Ex-F1 Team Boss Urges McLaren to SCRAP Papaya Rules and Prioritize Oscar Piastri