Source: REUTERS/RULA ROUHANA
[Saba Sports News] Eighteen-year-old Filipino driver Bianca Bustamante
has made history by becoming the first female driver to be part of the McLaren
F1 team’s youth training program. Notably, there has been a 31-year absence of
female names in the Formula One driver lineup, and it has been 47 years since a
female driver last participated in the F1 Grand Prix. The establishment of the
F1 Academy by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) this summer aims to
cultivate female drivers who are determined to fulfill their F1 dreams.
Bustamante has now joined McLaren UK’s driver development program, and in her
second season with the F1 Academy, she is expected to make significant
contributions and rewrite F1 history. Throughout her racing career, Bustamante
has competed in various championships, including the W Series (a formula race
specifically designed for female drivers), Emirates Formula 4, Italian Formula
4, and USF Junior Series. She has achieved multiple championships and has
demonstrated tremendous potential for growth. McLaren F1’s sports director,
Andrea Stella, an Italian engineer, expressed confidence that Bustamante will
become a legendary figure among female F1 drivers. The team is fully committed
to providing her with the best resources and eagerly anticipates her arrival
for the 2024 season.