Now, here is a proper piece of driver market news. Malthe Jakobsen is heading to McLaren, securing the final seat in the British brand's new MCL-HY Hypercar line-up for the upcoming FIA World Endurance Championship campaign. That means the team's Danish contingent doubles, with Jakobsen joining compatriot Mikkel Jensen in the machine as the iconic marque returns to top-flight international endurance racing for the first time in almost three decades.
It is a remarkable rise for the North Jutland native. After storming the domestic Formula 4 Championship in 2019, Jakobsen took the European Le Mans Series' LMP3 class crown at the age of just 18. Further dominance followed in the Asian Le Mans Series with back-to-back LMP2 category titles, which naturally caught the eye of Team Peugeot TotalEnergies. Following a tryout in the 2022 FIA WEC Rookie Test, the French manufacturer handed him a full-time factory race seat.
Despite earning the tag of the youngest driver in the team, Jakobsen delivered some stunning drives. He reached the rostrum at COTA in 2025 and bagged Peugeot's first pole position in the world championship at Spa-Francorchamps earlier this year. He then wrapped up his swansong with the squad last weekend at Monza by taking a season-high fourth. Naturally, his 2026 CV also includes a third Asian Le Mans Series title and ELMS Pro/Am laurels.
"I'm super-excited!" enthused Jakobsen. "It feels unbelievable to be part of this project and this brand, in particular as McLaren competes across FIA WEC, Formula 1 and IndyCar in pursuit of the 'Triple Crown'. That history, including the Le Mans win in 1995, is so special and it will be an honour to represent McLaren on the global stage."
He steps into a formidable roster that also features Mikkel Jensen, 2024 FIA World Endurance Champion Laurens Vanthoor, outgoing Cadillac ace Alex Lynn, reigning FIA Formula 2 Champion Leonardo Fornaroli, and recently-crowned ELMS LMP2 Champion Grégoire Saucy. Team Principal James Barclay praised the new recruit's credentials as the outfit builds towards its 2027 debut.
"He has already established himself as one of endurance racing's most exciting young talents, combining impressive speed and consistency with the technical ability that is so important at the highest level of the sport," said Barclay. Meanwhile, Peugeot figures Emmanuel Esnault and Olivier Jansonnie offered warm farewells, thanking the young driver for his hard work, commitment, and unforgettable speed since joining their 9X8 programme back in 2022.
