F1 Academy driver Bianca Bustamante has made history by becoming the first female driver in the McLaren Driver Development Programme.
The Philipino driver will represent McLaren on the 2024 F1 Academy grid as part of a new initiative in which all 10 teams must support one driver and have their livery on one car. However, despite racing with Prema Racing during the inaugural F1 Academy season, Bustamante will switch to ART Grand Prix for the 2024 season, who will sport the Woking-based team’s livery.
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The McLaren Development Driver initiative was officially launched in April 2023. Overseen by five-time Le Man winner and former F1 driver Emanuele Pirro, Bustamante is the most recent signing to the programme which includes several other upcoming talents.
She said:
“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.
“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.”
The MDD roster includes multiple IndyCar race winner, Pato O’Ward, recent reserve signing and Toyota protégé Ryo Hirakawa, 2023 F3 winner Gabriel Bortoleto, and Italian F4 runner-up Ugo Ugochukwu.
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Who is Bianca Bustamante?
Bustamante made her debut in single-seater racing in 2022, competing in W Series before the series collapsed. However, it’s only a season, the Philipino driver claimed top rookie honours before joining the grid for the first season of F1 Academy with Prema Racing.
Since joining the team, she has won two races and finished on the podium an additional two more times as she heads into the season finale at Austin this weekend.
The MDD aims to help drivers eventually reach the pinnacle of motorsport with the team offering seats in F1, FE, IndyCar and XE. Led by Pirro, who left his job as an FIA F1 race steward to take on the role, he has stated high hopes for Bustamante.
He said: “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.
“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.”
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Get 10% off all official F1 Merch at TheRaceWorks.com using code ‘EF1’ at checkout.