McLaren have signed 11-year-old karting prodigy Harry Williams to their Driver Development Programme, making him the team's youngest ever recruit. Williams, from Cheshire, joins two years earlier than Lewis Hamilton did in 1998, when the seven-time world champion entered the programme aged 13.

Ella Hakkinen, the 14-year-old daughter of double Formula 1 world champion Mika Hakkinen who signed last year, was previously the youngest driver on the programme. Reigning champion Lando Norris also progressed through McLaren's system, joining at 17 before reaching F1. The programme now feeds into F1, IndyCar, and the World Endurance Championship.

Williams began karting in 2021 and has rapidly ascended through the ranks. He claimed the 2025 British Open Championship, won the O plate in the Italian Waterswift Series, and finished fifth in the European Waterswift Championship. "There's no target or pressure—just enjoy karting and gain experience," said Alessandro Aluni Bravi, McLaren's chief business affairs officer.