Bianca Bustamante defies odds at Monza finale

Bianca Bustamante faced significant challenges at Monza. Photo from racerbia/Instagram

Battling through adversity, Filipino American racer Bianca Bustamante showcased her determination and skill during the final round of the Italian Formula 4 Championship at Monza. 

Competing in treacherous weather conditions, Bustamante experienced promising starts but faced significant challenges that hindered her performance. 

Throughout the weekend, the unpredictable weather presented a constant hurdle, with wet and damp conditions impacting all races. Rain-soaked tracks made it difficult for drivers to maintain control, creating a challenging environment for even the most seasoned competitors. 

In an Instagram post reflecting on her experience, the first Filipina McLaren Development racer expressed her frustration: “Couldn’t catch a break all weekend :/ Wet damp mixed condition all races and got hit in the back in both Race 2 and Race 3 sending me off… Not much to say except to look ahead to the next races.”

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A post shared by Bianca Bustamante 🏁 (@racerbia)

Despite the challenges she faced, she still “Enjoyed the weekend and opportunity nonetheless!”

Entering her second Italian F4 weekend, Bustamante was eager to build on her debut performance last year at Spa, where she secured two top-20 finishes. This time, she represented her F1 Academy team, ART Grand Prix, with aspirations of translating her growing experience into competitive success.

“We came into Monza bright-eyed and obviously with every intention to learn and use all that knowledge to compete in F1 Academy in an even better position,” she remarked in an interview with Racers. 

Despite her readiness, external factors played a significant role in her performance. “Unfortunately, we had conditions and variables that we can’t really control. It made it really difficult to move up positions and show speed and potential,” 19-year-old Bustamante acknowledged.

As she looks ahead, the Fil-Am young driver is set to participate in the sixth round of the F1 Academy at Lusail International Circuit in Qatar, scheduled for Nov. 30 to Dec. 1.