Bianca Bustamante hopes to add her name to the list of female drivers to begin a Formula One career, but first she must make her mark at this season’s F1 Academy.
To be fair to the 19-year-old, that’s what she’s done since she first hopped on the baby go-kart her father Raymund bought her when she was just three.
The Filipino driver scored two impressive wins in the inaugural season of the sport’s development series last season. Additionally, he scored a podium in the first race of the season and was visibly emotional on the podium during the final win at Monza.
“Coming from the Philippines, it meant a lot to represent and be there for every Filipino around the world,” She said in an interview with McLaren. ‘That’s what it feels like to be there. It’s one thing to hear that hymn, but another to hear it played thanks to you. “That is something I will never forget.”
In fact, Bustamante’s attempt to make history is not only driven by her gender but also by her heritage. Her youth emergence has seen her captured by the Papaya team as a driver of development and she has sparked interest and acclaim that is unlikely to diminish, in light of her striking talent.
Bianca Bustamante is a rising star of the sport and is preparing for the 2024 F1 Academy season
The 19-year-old races for the ART Grand Prix team, but is backed by McLaren and will wear their livery throughout the season.
Bustamante has amassed a large following on social media and can regularly be seen documenting her numerous travels.
F1 Academy, an all-female series under the umbrella of the FIA governing body, launched in 2023 with a mission to develop women in motorsport and help them reach the top of the sport.
The list Bustamante is looking to add his name to is, well, small. Only two women in F1’s 74-year history have ever had the thrill of hitting the accelerator when the lights go out.
María Teresa de Filippis was the first, back in the 1950s, before Lella Lombardi competed in 12 races and finished sixth in the 1975 Spanish Grand Prix, becoming the only woman to score points in an F1 race until the date.
Many female drivers have had a chance since then. The likes of Desire Wilson and Giovanna Amati were part of teams but never started races, while modern fans will be familiar with the high-profile names of Danica Patrick and Jamie Chadwick, who could be the first to break that glass ceiling.
Susie Wolff, wife of Mercedes team principal Toto, was at Williams for three seasons starting in 2012. She is now CEO of the F1 Academy, which this year has 10 of its 15 entrants backed by a different team. the F1 grid.
The eight-time constructors’ champions’ selection of Bustamante was appropriate, considering his reverence for the team and its history. F1 legend Niki Lauda served as inspiration, while accessories on a phone, a bracelet and even a pair of shoes were decorated with the iconic papaya.
Bustamante achieved his second victory of the 2023 season at Monza last July
Susie Wolff, who was a Williams development driver in her racing days, is the CEO of the F1 Academy.
McLaren driver Lando Norris (right) took a trip to the F1 Academy paddock in Saudi Arabia on Thursday ahead of the opening race of the new season.
“There are 60 years of history stored inside this building and you feel it.” She continued. ‘All these people I admire work and have worked here. Being on the same path as them is incredible.
‘I’ve been building my whole life towards this moment. Every step I’ve taken, every hour in the gym, every day on the track, every lap, was working up until this moment. I have a group of people who believe in me and that pushes me forward.’
His journey included time at the University of Santo Tomas Angelicum in the Engineering and STEM department, as well as multiple karting titles from the age of five. Bustamante then made the step up to the W Series before joining PREMA Racing and taking part in the 2023 UAE Formula 4 Championship ahead of the F1 Academy.
His pair of victories helped him achieve seventh place in the drivers’ championship. Her PREMA teammate Marta Garcia took the title ahead of runner-up Lena Buhler, but neither will be a concern this season as the campaign begins in Saudi Arabia on Friday.
Both drivers will compete next season in the European Formula Alpine Regional Championship. In fact, this year the F1 Academy has implemented a two-season limit for drivers to ensure progression up the youth motorsport ladder.
In total, the calendar sees drivers compete in seven races, starting in Jeddah and culminating with a final in Abu Dhabi in December. Bustamante, the third-youngest driver on the grid, will compete for ART Grand Prix in McLaren colours.
Last year, the young man was named TikTok Philippines Sports Creator of the Year.
Bustamante has more than two million subscribers on Instagram and TikTok, surpassing a couple of F1 drivers on this year’s grid.
However, Bustamante is not just a racing driver. To her legions of social media followers (her number exceeds two million on Instagram and TikTok alone), she is a fashion icon, an influencer, a socialite and so much more.
Last year, she was named TikTok Philippines Sports Creator of the Year and, according to The Game, was also recognized as the third most influential racing driver based on her social media following and online search demand.
His gigantic Instagram following, for example, is as big as current F1 driver Zhou Guanyu’s and much bigger than Williams’ Logan Sargent. He has been featured in top fashion magazines such as Vogue Philippines and Lifestyle Asia.
And now he can count on an ever-growing fan base as his career continues its upward trajectory.
“I love talking about this because I love talking about the community that I have,” he added. ‘Without the people who support me, I wouldn’t be here now, and that’s why I always do the best I can to give back: share what it’s like to be an athlete, to be that kid in this crazy world.
‘I have used social networks to share those trips, to share the mistakes. I loved the trip and the people have supported me more than I could have ever imagined.
Bustamante hopes to improve on his seventh place finish this season with a new team.
‘As a host, you have this amazing platform that you can use to show your values, show who you are, and preach things you believe in. “I believe in many causes and I believe that it takes a village to build a champion.”
Bustamante is still a long way from achieving the ultimate goal of competing in F1, but, at just 19 years old, he has plenty of time, plenty of fans and plenty of talent to inspire confidence that he could be much closer than most.
