Bianca Bustamante crosses P7 line in 2nd Barcelona race

Photo from racerbia/Instagram

Filipino American racer Bianca Bustamante has always possessed a winner’s mindset, which she continues to demonstrate in the 2024 F1 Academy season.

As McLaren’s first Filipina driver, Bustamante has proven her mettle by scoring in every race this season. In the thrilling opening race of the weekend in Barcelona, she narrowly missed out on the podium, clinching fourth place and gaining points with her P7 finish in the second race.

Reflecting on her performance on Instagram, Bustamante said, “I drove my heart out this weekend, gave it my all but came just short of the podium finishing P4 in Race 1. The team gave me a strong car and we had good pace, pushing every lap and every corner until the finish.”

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Race 2 presented more challenges for the Laguna-native driver, starting from P8. “It was tougher starting from P8,” she shared. “I tried to be aggressive on the start, but the car crept a bit before the launch and I got a 5-second penalty. Despite a decent race pace, it wasn’t enough to overtake and I crossed the line in P7.”

Bustamante remains optimistic and focused on continual improvement. “My target is always for better results, but I’m happy with my races this weekend as I [feel] I have matured as a driver. I learned to be patient and more level-headed in the car, which will help me in the races ahead.”

Expressing gratitude to her supporters, she added, “Thanks to all the Spanish fans for the love and support. It was, as always, an absolute pleasure! Back on track next week.”

Bustamante’s performance this season continues to underscore her potential as a formidable competitor in the F1 Academy.

Despite her consistent performance, Bustamante is still chasing her maiden win of the season. Prior to this race, she showcased her talent with a second-place finish in Race 2 in Miami. Her drive and determination to secure that elusive victory remain as strong as ever, fueling her ascent in the highly competitive field as a young Filipina.