F1 News: Bustamante joins McLaren Driver Development program

Bianca Bustamante today joined the McLaren Driver Development program, becoming the first female driver to enroll in the team’s development program.

Bianca will also represent McLaren by running the team’s livery on her F1 Academy race car for the 2024 season.

Bianca,18-years-old from the Philippines, is a promising female talent in motorsport who has been involved in racing since the age of five, winning multiple karting championships across Asia.

So far in her single-seater career, Bianca has competed in W Series, Formula 4 UAE Championship, Italian Formula 4, USF Juniors and most recently the 2023 F1 Academy season. She has two wins and two podiums this season heading into the final round of the 2023 series at the United States Grand Prix in Austin.

Bianca’s involvement in the McLaren Driver Development program, led by Emanuele Pirro, will see her join the team’s talent pipeline which has an overarching aim to help drivers progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar and Formula E.

Cisco will become an Official Primary Partner of the McLaren F1 Academy program. Cisco is a leader in enterprise networking, video collaboration and security technology, and has been an Official Partner of the McLaren Formula 1 Team since 2021. The F1 Academy partnership builds on Cisco’s 60 Scholars collaboration with McLaren, an initiative supporting women in STEM career pathways. As part of the multi-year partnership, Cisco branding will be represented on Bianca Bustamante’s race car, overalls, and team kit.

Bianca will represent McLaren in the 2024 F1 Academy season, racing with ART Grand Prix.

Emanuele Pirro, Director, McLaren Driver Development program, said:

“I’m pleased that Bianca is joining our Driver Development program. 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.”

Andrea Stella, Team Principal, McLaren F1, said:

“The team are delighted for Bianca to join us, and for McLaren to be involved in F1 Academy. It’s a core principle of ours to be a diverse and inclusive team, so we’re pleased to be so involved in Formula 1’s work on the important topic of improving gender diversity within motorsport. We also look forward to seeing Bianca grow and progress within the McLaren Racing Driver Development program under Emanuele’s guidance.”

Bianca Bustamante, Driver, F1 Academy and McLaren, 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.

“I’m so grateful for this opportunity as I believe I now have the best possible development structure around me to take the next step up in my career, and for this I am so thankful. 2023 was all about improving my speed which I demonstrated across several races this year, but in 2024 my aim is to establish consistency and improve my mental strength in order to make a title challenge in the coming F1 Academy season.

“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. I’ve never been more motivated in my life! A big thanks goes to 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. Additional thanks go to Zak Brown, Andrea Stella, Emanuele Pirro, Sebastian Philippe, my sponsors, and all my supporters for believing in me and making this all possible. I am full of gratitude, and I promise to give it my all.”

Carrie Palin, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Cisco, said:

“We are always looking to align our brand with programs that foster greater diversity and align to Cisco’s purpose to power an inclusive future for all. The McLaren F1 Academy program was a natural opportunity for us to expand on our partnership with McLaren Racing, and support Bianca as she strives to pave new opportunities for women in motorsports. We will be cheering her on as she takes to the track and have no doubt that she will be an inspiration to many around the world.”