Filipina race car driver sensation Bianca Bustamante is the absolute boss lady who’s snagged herself a ticket to the 2024 F1 Academy season with McLaren’s Driver Development program.
Bianca is making history as the first Filipino to rev up those McLaren engines and the pioneer female in their all-female single-seater racing championship.
Welcome to the family, @RacerBia! 🧡
We're proud to announce Bianca Bustamante has joined our Driver Development programme! 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/O3ZjM2q2eg
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 18, 2023
Ready to fly the flag for the Philippines and McLaren in F1 Academy! 🧡🇵🇭
Let's get it, @RacerBia. 👊
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 18, 2023
For Bianca, it’s a fairytale journey she finds unbelievable as she started as a mere “fangirl” crushing on the British racing titans and all things Formula 1.
“I am not gonna lie. I’m a fangirl… I was once just literally fangirling, just looking up to all these people, watching them on TV,” she spilled the beans in a video posted by McLaren.
“I wasn’t expecting to wear the t-shirt and be part of the team one day. But I am now, so it kinda makes everything just unimaginable,” she added.
A dream come true! 💫 @racerbia pic.twitter.com/ZMWdms5MF4
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 18, 2023
But dreams do come true. McLaren on Wednesday announced her as the inaugural female driver to enroll in their development program. That means she’ll proudly don McLaren’s iconic livery on her F1 Academy race car for the 2024 season.
This moment has left Bianca feeling humbled and all kinds of emotions. “To sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined growing up racing karts in the Philippines,” she 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,” she added.
