Bianca Bustamante starstruck by Brad Pitt at F1 movie premiere
Photos from racerbia/Instagram/AP photo
Filipino American motorsport rising star Bianca Bustamante recently found herself rubbing shoulders with global icons, including actor Brad Pitt, at the F1 movie premiere held at Leicester Square in London.
It was a full-circle moment for the young racer, who described the night as something straight out of a dream.
Photo from racerbia/Instagram
Sharing highlights of the event on Instagram, Bustamante posted clips and photos of herself on the red carpet, visibly moved by the experience. Among the A-listers present were actor Brad Pitt, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and music superstar Ed Sheeranm– names she had only ever seen from afar until that night.
Brad Pitt, left, and Tom Cruise pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘F1 The Movie’ on Monday, June 23, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
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“I can’t believe I was there, right there, in the same room, existing, living,” she wrote in her caption, clearly still soaking in the moment. “I’ve got so many butterflies right now, and not even in little Bia’s wildest dreams would this have ever seemed possible.”
Stefano Domenicali, from left, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Joseph Kosinski and Jerry Bruckheimer pose for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film ‘F1 The Movie’ on Monday, June 23, 2025, in London. (Photo by Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP)
According to her post, standing in the heart of Leicester Square among such celebrated figures felt like a powerful testament to how far she’s come.
“Today, we stood in the middle of Leicester Square, surrounded by people I only ever saw on the big screen… All gathered to celebrate such an incredible era of the sport I love,” she shared.
Calling the F1 movie premiere “a fever dream,” Bustamante gushed about how the film captured the essence and emotion of the sport she’s devoted her life to. “Watching Formula 1 come alive on the big screen, with a storyline that truly melted my heart,” she said, adding how inspired she felt by the artistry and hard work poured into the project.
She said she hopes the film ignites passion in future racers just as films like Rush and stories of F1 legend Niki Lauda once did for her. “I can’t wait for the next generation to watch this and say, ‘I want to be an F1 driver,’ the same way I did,” she wrote.
