At just 18, Philippines-born F1 Academy racer Bianca Bustamante has become the first female driver to join the prestigious McLaren Driver Development Programme.
She is set to represent McLaren on the F1 Academy grid next year and run their livery, moving on to race with ART Grand Prix.
The young racer only made her single-seater debut last year before joining the grid for the inaugural F1 Academy season with PREMA Racing in Italy this year.
Bustamante described her admission to the Development Programme as “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.”
The Development Programme will be led by former Formula 1 driver, Emanuele Pirro, .
“I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our Driver Development programme,” 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.”
Bustamante will join the team’s talent pool with the goal of progressing towards Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E.
She said she is “so grateful for this opportunity” because she has “the best possible development structure” to take the next step up in her career.
Next year, Bustamante is aiming to establish consistency and improve her mental strength — “in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season,” she said.
“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 continued. “I’ve never been more motivated in my life.”
Bustamante thanked 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.”
Andrea Stella, McLaren’s Team Principal said the team is delighted about Bustamante’s admission — describing her joy in being involved in Formula 1’s work on improving gender diversity within motorsport.
“We look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing Driver Development programme under Emanuele’s guidance,” she said.