18-year-old Filipina racer Bianca Bustamante has officially signed with the McLaren Driver Development Program, marking a significant milestone in her aspiring Formula 1 career.
Bustamante, hailing from the Philippines, made the exciting announcement on Wednesday night, which has sent waves of excitement through the racing community. She is set to conclude her season with the Italian team PREMA Racing by competing in the finale weekend of the inaugural F1 Academy season in Austin.
Welcome to the family, @RacerBia! 🧡
— McLaren (@McLarenF1) October 18, 2023
We're proud to announce Bianca Bustamante has joined our Driver Development programme! 🇵🇭 pic.twitter.com/O3ZjM2q2eg
Under her new partnership with McLaren, Bustamante will race under the banner of ART Grand Prix in the 2024 F1 Academy season. This move is nothing short of a dream come true for the young driver, who expressed her awe at being associated with the prestigious McLaren team.
“This is such an unreal moment in my career, to sign with McLaren and ART Grand Prix is way beyond anything I could have ever imagined growing up as a kid racing karts in the Philippines,” said Bustamante. “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.”
In a historic move, Bianca Bustamante becomes the first-ever female driver to join McLaren’s esteemed driver development initiative. She will receive guidance and mentorship from former McLaren test driver, Formula 1 driver, and Le Mans winner, Emanuele Pirro.
“I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our Driver Development Programme. She’s a promising young talent who has a brilliant work ethic and is aligned closely to our team’s values,” commented Pirro. “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.”
Bustamante’s journey to the top of motorsport has been marked by impressive performances. In her current season with PREMA Racing, she has clinched victory in two races during the 7-round season. As the season comes to a close, Bustamante currently holds the seventh position in the driver’s championship with 102 points. She will have three races to compete in at the Circuit of the Americas.
Bustamante’s teammate at PREMA Racing, Marta Garcia, currently leads the championship with 235 points, making it an exciting time for female racers in the world of Formula 1.