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F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante has become the first female signed to McLaren’s driver development program and will race in the team’s colors in 2024.
All Formula 1 teams will support at least one driver in F1 Academy next season, including running the livery on one of the cars. For McLaren, 18-year-old Bustamante has been signed ahead of the season finale at this weekend’s United States Grand Prix, an event she goes into sitting seventh in the championship with two wins to her name.
“The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy,” team principal Andrea Stella said. “It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team, so we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport. We also look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing driver development program under Emanuele (Pirro)’s guidance.”
Bustamante has previously raced in W Series, Italian and UAE Formula 4 championships and USF Juniors, and Pirro says she’s shown potential that the team hopes to develop through next season.
“I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our driver development program,” Pirro said. “She’s a promising young talent who has a brilliant work ethic and is aligned closely to our team’s values. I look forward to working with Bianca on her development as a racing driver. We’re also excited for Bianca to be representing the team in the F1 Academy series and we look forward to seeing her race in papaya in 2024.”
The Filipino driver has raced for Prema in F1 Academy this year but will move to ART next season under the McLaren program, for which Cisco has been named as the primary partner.
“This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines,” Bustamante said. “I still have a hard time seeing my name next to McLaren without getting emotional, as the history and heritage linked to this team leaves me truly speechless.
“I’m so grateful for this opportunity as I believe I now have the best possible development structure around me to take the next step up in my career, and for this I am so thankful. 2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season.
“For now, my focus is to finish off the F1 Academy season strongly here in Austin, but we’ll get to work immediately on the 2024 season,” she said. “I’ve never been more motivated in my life! A big thanks goes to Susie Wolff and the team at F1 Academy for fighting so hard for us girls and to give us this opportunity to be the best we can be. Additional thanks go to Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Emanuele Pirro, Sebastian Philippe, my sponsors, and all my supporters for believing in me and making this all possible. I am full of gratitude, and I promise to give it my all.”
Article published by Hear Her Stories