Following Rounds 13 and 14 of the Formula E season in Berlin, teams took to a day of testing on Monday July 14. As seen previously, the Rookie Tests are a well valued session by many younger drivers. Part of this line up including F1 Academy’s very own, Ella Lloyd.
Lloyd spoke to a representative from Pit Debrief during the weekend, and spoke about the knowledge she has gained, as well as where her career goals lie.
The increase in development
This Rookie Test was not Lloyd’s first time testing Formula E machinery. In the November of 2024, Lloyd alongside many other talented females, took part in Formula E’s first ever, women’s test. Overall, Lloyd finish the women’s test in seventh overall, despite being the least experienced of the bunch.
This lead the way for her to compete in the Season 11 Berlin Rookie Test. The British driver completed the development and knowledge that these Rookie Tests bring. Despite competing in F1 Academy and British F4, Lloyd acknowledges that these series’ are nothing in comparison to Formula E.
The push to step up and learn the cars, engineers, drivers, has gained Lloyd incredible amounts of learning and knowledge. She strives to take his into the remainder of her F1 Academy season, aiming to pursue a higher Championship finish than her current P4.
“Yeah, doing rookie tests like this obviously helps me as a driver and any other driver really. Having to work with the engineers and everyone involved is going to just increase my learning and knowledge of everything.
“F1 Academy or British F4 is nothing at this level, so to be able to step up and, you know, learn not just from the engineers but the drivers as well, which is great. And yeah, just take whatever learning I can really from the test into the rest of the season. I’m sure that it’ll be something I’ll learn that I can take forward.”
Formula One remains the goal
With decent experience within Formula E, questions flew on whether Formula One remained Lloyd’s main goal. With pace and talent shown by the Brit in Formula E machinery, a future in the series was questioned.
Lloyd acknowledged that while she would consider any opportunities that came her way, the idealistic goal remains in Formula One.
“Obviously, the goal is Formula One, like everyone else. Yeah, I think just wherever opportunities come my way, I’ll be open to, yeah, wherever comes my way.
“But obviously, my goal is F1.”
