Rising Filipina motorsport star Bianca Bustamante has been named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe honorees for 2025, marking yet another milestone in her groundbreaking racing career.
The 19-year-old driver made headlines in 2023 as the first female athlete to be signed to the McLaren Driver Development Program under the F1 Academy. Forbes highlighted her fast ascent in the sport, noting how her growing influence has attracted more than 3 million followers across Instagram and TikTok, as well as major brand partnerships ranging from Anastasia Beverly Hills to Cisco.
Bianca took to Instagram to share her emotional reaction to the recognition. “Gosh, putting this into writing feels unreal,” she wrote. Reflecting on her early dreams, she added, “The 5-year-old me just wanted to drive till the sun went down… who knew this is who she’d grow up to be.”
She expressed deep appreciation to her supporters, saying, “Words can’t describe how much it means to me. What a great source of motivation as I head into this new chapter. Can’t wait to see where the future takes us.”
Bianca’s momentum in racing continues to accelerate, following her first career win in Valencia, Spain in May 2023, and another victory in Monza two months later. She also appeared on the cover of Vogue Philippines in July 2024, alongside Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, solidifying her status as a young icon in both sports and culture.
